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I love porches...patios.... outdoor spaces.
They just feel... right.

The past few days have been wonderful for hanging out on the patio... enjoying my coffee... and a good book.
To me... this is definitely the best time of year here in ABQ.



*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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leaves... airborn... twirling
smoky tendrils wafting west
summer waves goodbye...

As we make an offering this weekend... we give thanks to summer and all it's blessings.

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 Being an artist ... isn't just about making art. It is living and breathing art on a daily basis. It is a way of life... the manner in which you do things... see things... feel things... and how you take it all in... and make it your own.

It is in putting on certain music to set the mood. It is in the flowers on the table... the handmade blankets on your bed... or curtains on your window. It is the collection of small rocks... or feathers... or nuts on the buffet table. It is in how you make your morning coffee... and add a side of fresh fruit or bread. It is in the crystals in the sunlight... the plants on the patio... the candles in the kitchen.

It is all this and more.



And tonight ... dinner was a french inspired melody of chicken breasts... slow roasted in white wine and herbs.... With oven roasted squash, potatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, mushrooms and herbs from the garden... and crusty seeded bread....

(*photos by Elaine A. Russell)

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I am a coffee addict... and I wear it proudly.
I love to spend time at cafes... leisurely reading... sketching... whatever... it is a joyous time for me.

That said... it doesn't matter if I am home... or if I am traveling... I love to find new coffee shops to check out. So. When we were in Williams, AZ... I knew we had to check out a couple of the cafes.

One of the cooler coffee places for me... was a place called "American Flyer."
Family owned and operated... it has a wonderful selection of coffees... teas... juices and snacks.
Plus ... it had all these other fantastic things going for it...
WiFi and a computer to use ...
Great art on the walls...
a map that has pins marking the locations of some of the customers that have come in...
and a whole bicycle theme that was just fun and funky!  Bikes on the walls... skateboard shelves... even the tables were made from recycled boards and bike parts. How cool is that?!



*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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I am really tired tonight... but I don't want to not post... and so...
I will wish you all a very good evening.

May you have light breezes in your window... soft blankets on your bed...
moonglow on your walls ... smooth jazz filling the air... and sweet dreams in your head.

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You know I love trains.

One of the things that is such a pleasant memory from my childhood... was sitting on the bank in the grass and watching the train go by. I love the whistles... I love the sound of the engine racing... I love jumping the tracks... I love it all.

One of the nice things about being in Albuquerque... was that they still have an active railway system here. ... and sometimes... late at night... I can hear the whistle blowing... even across the city.

When we went to the Grand Canyon... and when we stopped in Williams, AZ... one of the main attractions is the railyard station.. and the glorious trains they have there. And so... I took some photos.






*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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One of the real attractions for me in Williams, AZ... was this stunningly cool hotel right on the main drag going thru town. Trusting my gut... I spontaneously booked us a room... and WOW ... I was not disappointed.

The Grand Canyon Hotel is a historic 2-story European Style Boutique Hotel that opened in 1891.... and is the OLDEST hotel in Arizona. The hotel boasts 25 uniquely decorated rooms... such as "the Paris room"... the "dorm" room... and the "Boudoir" room that features pin-up art and lush linens. There are also suites for couple and families... and even rooms set aside for hostel accommodations. There are no TVs in the rooms... (which is awesome)... however..  for those interested... there is a "library" room downstairs that has a usable computer with WiFi.. a TV.... a bookcase with tons of books... coffee and tea... aaaaaaaaaaaaaah.



This is a family owned place... and the service was extraordinary. Lena showed us a variety of the rooms... as well as the WC and shower rooms available. OH! And in the living room/ foyer of the hotel... along with all the Victorian furniture...  tanks with fish, frogs and lizard!... was this HUGE printing chest.. with probably 100 drawers... all filled with vintage printing press stamps. So of course... after a glass of wine from the library... and a nice warm shower.... I snuck down to the front room and looked at all the stamps.


Next door... and offering a discount to hotel guests... was the Dara Thai Cafe. Also family owned... we were blessed to meet the chief cook and "mom" of the place. The food was awesome...BUT... go with the least spice!...because it is HOT.



As a surprise... as soon as it got dark all these fireworks started appearing just outside our hotel windows. Apparently... it was in celebration of the town train's 110th Anniversary. People were out at the cafe's... there was live music everywhere... there were horse-drawn carriages giving tours of the town... it was awesome.

Comfy sheets... open windows... warm comforters... all brought us THE best night's sleep...


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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After sleeping in a little... and waving goodbye to our friend... we headed back to Williams, AZ.

"Founded in 1881, Williams was named for the famous trapper, scout and mountain man, "Old Bill Williams." A statue of "Old Bill" stands in Monument Park, located on the west side of the city. The large mountain directly south of town is named Bill Williams Mountain. The Town was incorporated July 9, 1901. It is in the heart of the Kaibab National Forest; at an elevation of 6,770 feet."

Known as the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon," Williams was also the last town in America on Historic Route 66 to be bypassed by Interstate 40. ... so it is chock full of Route66 memorabilia... shops ... kitch.
And you all know I love kitch.
 
Here are some photos from Williams... with a slant toward the Route66 factor.


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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After a quick lunch in Williams, AZ... which is a FANTASTIC little town just outside of the Grand Canyon National Park.... we headed towards Kingman, AZ. This was to be the meeting spot ... where we would drop off our friend... and she would be taken by another friend to her new home in California.

We got a very nice room at the local Days Inn... and discovered a neat grocery store across the road called Bashas'. It was there ... that we were able to get a fresh roasted herb chicken... a ton of fresh veggies and bread... some cheese... and some munchies... and we had a fantastic picnic-type dinner in our hotel room.

Plus... we had a great night's sleep.

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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So... last week we left on Thursday night... and drove all night.
We arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park around 4am. It's a sorta winding path into the park... and it was lit only by a HUGE almost full moon. Glorious. Upon entering the park... we actually were blessed... and saw a herd of female elk on their nightly grazing.
We got to the park... and decided to nap for a little bit... waiting for sunrise.

Once the sun started to come up... tons of people seemingly appeared out of nowhere to watch.
There were (mainly) foreign tourists there... with groups that I noted from France, Germany, Japan, and Russia. I was surprised at how few Americans were there... and one of the German tourists said the same thing. Perhaps Americans tend to go before Labor Day... I am not sure. It is interesting to note that other countries seem to emphasize the importance of travel... I think ... more so than Americans do...
Either way... the canyon is glorious... and not something I would recommend missing.

We enjoyed several hours at the canyon... taking in alot of the sights.... wandering the pathways... I even lit a HUGE bunch of lavender & Sage smudge bundle... and did some prayerful meditation.... giving thanks for the trip... hopes and well wishes for the future... and healing for our land (as well as physical healing for myself and some friends)...

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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What is it about 2 am
that makes one dare to dream
dare to run
screaming
stopping suddenly
too close to the edge
staring at the stars
wondering
hoping
waiting for the sun to shine again

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I really, really needed a vacation.
Even though it was only for a couple of days... it was really, really appreciated.

Sometimes it takes a short trip like this to allow a person to adequately reflect, rest, and re-charge.


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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I apologize for not posting as often as I usually do.
 This past year has been super rough on me physically... as well as emotionally...
and it is taking me a bit longer to recoup after getting home around midnight on Sunday night.

I will be back in a day or so...

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...I am traveling with the daughter... in and around the Grand Canyon area in Arizona...
and taking a friend half-way back to her new home in California. I will post more when I get back...


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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Leaving tonight... and will be driving thru the desert all night... to be at my destination near the dawn...

So... I got a belly full of Ayurvedic food... a binder full of good music...
and some wonderful sage to burn along the way.

Blessings to you and yours... and I will be back in a few days.

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 well... it's been a little nuts around here lately...
But in the next day or so I will be heading out on a short trip. It will be good.
And in the meantime... I am trying really hard to get a few things done around the house... organize stuff... get the Jeep checked to make sure everything is OK... the usual...

So... let's gather the roadtrip music... and roll...

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It's raining.
I love it when it rains. I love the sound the rain makes as it  plunks down upon the patio... how the thunder rolls across the sky like a herd of wild buffalo... how the wetness feels between my toes ... cool and refreshing...

This has been a rough year.
It occurred to me that I have been in a Lupus Flare for over a year now... as it started last August...
I can't seem to shake it.

In just a few short days... the daughter and I will be traveling west... to drive a friend half-way back to her home in California. I can feel the adventure she is looking towards... and it makes me smile.