309:365:2011


One of the first things I remember consistently making... were cards.
Drawn, collaged... photos... I have done alot.

Cards... and works of paper in general... are one of the most affordable... yet.. intensely personal things you can make.
And how lovely to receive?!
These works can be so simple... or they can be extremely complicated. It just depends on how far you want to take something. From Iris Paper Folding... to stamping... to Gocco printing... the choices are endless. I even remember doing some fabu designs with a spirograph kit...

Anyway... I hope to explore some of these techniques in future posts... but in the meantime... have fun!

About the photo: I took this photo a couple years ago... and never did anything with it. When I was going thru my archives for a possible photo for this post.. .this one just jumped out at me. Why? Because when I was just a kid making cards... I always included a little "logo" on the back of them... (based on my maiden name of Appleby)... which was a little sketch of an apple and a fuzzy bee hovering by it.

308:365:2011


One thing that is true for me... and one I would encourage... is that you should only have what you truly love.
Life is too short to be miserable.
That said... (and for me at least)... I would rather do without... than to have to deal with something I really don't like. Case in point. ...

We have had alot of various furniture over the last 20-some years of marriage. Most all of which... was 2nd (or third... or fourth... ) hand. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I would gladly argue that alot of things made today are really poorly made when compared to something made from even 40yrs ago. However. We have had alot of really crappy... poorly made stuff.
Right at the moment... the only seating we have in our living room is a single (but wonderful!) re-claimed leather chair and ottoman. It is about a year old.. .and was made from recycled material. It replaced a series of really ugly... uncomfortable... and on occasion... really smelly furniture over the years... the last of which was a couple small couches that our neighbors were (literally) throwing out.
We spontaneously got rid of most everything a year ago... and because we had (and still do) limited funds... we only could replace it all with just the one chair and ottoman.
It's fine.It really is.
Because that one chair and ottoman are so comfortable... clean... and completely our style... that it doesn't matter. We make do. Someday.. we will get more.. but for now.. it is OK.
So... downsizing isn't all bad folks...
And loving what you have?
.priceless.

*photo by Elaine A. Russell

307:365:2011


I am a country girl at heart.
Now... don't misunderstand... I love living in the city... and the conveniences that provides...
But. I grew up in a very small town in rural PA... and my soul loves to watch the changing of the seasons... as only nature herself can do.

It seems that we as a people are going thru serious changes. I liken it alot to the great depression that followed the stock market crash of 1929. I think we have been living within a deep financial depression for longer than we all care to admit... and an emotional one perhaps as well. After all... alot of us suffered thru the "material years" of the 80s and 90s... and perhaps got caught up in alot of what we should have and ought to do... and ... now are at a point where we are re-thinking alot of things. At least... that's my take on it.

Which brings me back to being a "country girl." I have always done alot of crafting... of making "something out of nothing...".... of recycling and re-working pieces into new.
I would like to start doing more posts on these type of things...
I think it's about time.


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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On the PLUS side...

- I am trying to get all our finances in order
- I made $200 selling some gold jewelry
- I listed some stuff on Etsy.. .and have alot more to list :)
- I am continuing to downsize our stuff
- I am providing an opportunity for something GREAT to happen


*photo by Elaine A. Russell

303:365:2011



Today was pretty craptastic.
And so... I will concentrate on the lovely... the hopeful... and what I hope will be the outcome of it all.
... and trust that it will all work out.

(photo by Elaine A. Russell)

300:365:2011


I love to cook.
Tonight I made this...

Organic chicken breasts... in a pan with a little olive oil and a few pats butter...
Smothered in spice... (paprika, cumin, pepper flakes, garam masala, curry, tumeric)... with some added fresh sliced onions and a clove of garlic. Slow roasted on the stovetop... darjeeling tea added to keep it moist while cooking.... and a chopped bratwurst that I had leftover in the fridge.
---- Topped with fresh herbs... and served with fusili.

299:365:2011


Today was definately a monday... full of running errands... housekeeping... the usual frenzy.
However... I also got to see a wonderful friend... enjoy some coffee.... look at some fabulous art...
AND! ... I got to take a nap...

..... plus there were these beauties that I plucked from our garden beds...

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It's been a long and tiring weekend.... and I fear that I did not get as much done as I had hoped.
That said... I love this weather... and I love this time of year... so I am trying really hard to get things together... get some things done... and enjoy the season.

Lazy mornings (or in my case... afternoons)... time well spent on the front patio drinking hot coffee and watching the birds. Today I got to see a Cooper's Hawk catch and enjoy his afternoon meal.
Fantastic.


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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dusky.
Evening descends on the west mesa
wind whipping and whirling like 2 squirrels in a frenzy
Grass waving... grasping at itself
holding tight
clutching the earth to itself
Scared to let go.

A chill is coming. Warm rays sink into the ground
like a blanket covering ones toes in the night.
And the stars come out to play...


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

294:365:2011


Sometimes a photograph can so eloquently say how I'm feeling... and/ or ... how I'm feeling can so dramatically effect how I photograph things.
This is one of those days.


*photo by Elaine A. Russell

293:365:2011


I really am trying to get it together here... some days just feel a bit harder than others.
However... today I managed to water the garden... clean up the patio space... and decorate for Halloween.
And did you see the moon out there?!
...she is stunning


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

292:365:2011


Fall is definately in the air... and the weather has been awesome here for the past several days.
It has been wonderful.

And while I am still longing for a different place to live... I am trying hard to enjoy the season...
and all that New Mexico has to offer.
Dinner tonight was organic, grass fed beef... fresh veggies from the local farm market... and baguettes with Danish cheese smeared on it. Yum.

291:365:2011


I feel as if I am going into another slump... I hate it.
I have been trying very hard to get myself out... and it doesn't seem to be working.

Part of the problem... is that I wish we could move. ... but things just aren't working that way...
 or at least... it doesn't seem it.
Part of the problem is that I have been really sick this year... and although it is somewhat better...
I am far from where I would like to be.
Part of it seems silly... I miss the changing of the leaves. I miss the fog... I miss having creeks... water nearby.

And so... I have been trying to busy myself. Organizing stuff around the house. Working on some projects. Keeping up with the everyday ( laundry, dishes, sweeping, cleaning, cooking)... that sort of stuff.
I am trying to convince myself that it will pass.... everything will work out... everything will be OK.
... and I will go make some tea.

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It's been an interesting week... that is for sure.

I apologize for not writing much these past few days... but it has turned out to be a time for reflection and meditation for me.
At least I included photos....   :)

Anyway. I promise to write a more "thoughtful" post this weekend...
and in the meantime... here is (another) photo from my recent trip to the Grand Canyon...

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Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Butter...
~~~
40 large apples (about 13 lbs) cut up and cored.
1/4 cup water
6 cups of sugar
1 cup of cider vinegar
4 tsp of ground cinnamon
pat of butter
~~~
In a large covered kettle, simmer the apples and water until tender. Blend gently and coarsely. Measure out 1 gallon of pulp, place in a large pot. Add in sugar, vinegar, cinnamon, and a pat of butter.
Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 3hours, stirring occasionally.
Then check it. Depending on your altitude... it may need another hour to cook up into a nice thick sauce.

Pour hot into jars, process for 10 minutes in a hot-water bath.
Yield: 8-10 pints


*photo by Elaine A. Russell
**recipe is an adapted PA Dutch Country recipe from a century old cookbook.