Alaska

 Just a quick note, I flew back to Alaska yesterday and will be here until the need of September. I will be posting pictures as I get out. Today we are hoping to see some Beluga Whales before we drive from Anchorage to Homer.

At the gate waiting to board

One Week

 Next Friday, I leave for Alaska. I have packed my gear and then repacked it, I will probably do it a few more times before I am satisfied.

Visited with my oncologist on Tuesday, weight dropped 20lbs(more to go), PSA dropped lower, BP down, overall doing well. Received my hormone shot, butt hurts like hell. I then went and got a Covid booster, both shots on my right side. I don’t know if that was a good idea or not.

A few photos from the last week or so.

Summertime

 Summer is melting away rapidly as we move from July to August. Almost time for my second PSA Test and the dreaded hormone shot. The temperature has dropped from the 100"s to the mid-nineties, quite a relief.

Many things have been going on this summer. I continues to show and sell my work at the gallery, Mostly Madrid, in Madrid New Mexico. Have met some interesting people wandering through.

Madrid Miners, our local softball team played in a Tournament in June. Here are a few shots of the game.

Unfortunately, our team did not make to the finals.

Madrid is always up for a parade. This is the He/She Bang, theatrical group preparing a float for the Pride Parade. Plus a few pictures of some of the participants.

Which brings our to the next Parade on the 4th of July.

The next weekend I was a volunteer at the, International Folk Artist Market. Such a good experience, meeting a chatting with artist from around the world.

Bought this vest from Guatemala.

The lady on the left spins the yarn, the other lady does the weavings.

This, Heart, was a gift from one of the ladies I cashiered for.

July 22nd, Eva's birthday, may she rest in peace.

So that brings us to the present. I am preparing to leave for Alaska in the middle of August and will be returning at the end of September. That should cool me off a bit. My house sitter will be here in a few days, so I can train her on how to operate the solar system, watering system and how to heat the wood-burning Hot Tub, among other things.

These are a few images I have captured this summer.

Visit my web site for more: https://steven-natanson.pixels.com/

17th Annual Crawdaddy Blues Festival

I spent the last month taking pictures of various events around town. One of my favorites is the annual Crawdad Festival, good music, good food and the weather held up pretty well for the weekend event.

Attorney General Raul Torres, US Senator Martin Heinrich, County Commissioner Rudy Garcia

Lori, who owns the Mine Shaft Tavern, where the event is held.

These are just a few of the many performers from the event.

First PSA Test After Treatment

 Friday, the 5th of May I went to the lab for my PSA test. Today, Monday the 8th, I met with the doctor to discuss the results and future treatment. 

My Radiologist, told me he hoped to see me below 10, at our final consultation in February. I was as high as 31.7 pre-treatment. Today I was informed by my Oncologist the my PSA was .02, he stated it is basically undetectable. I am Cancer Free!!!. I then received my hormone shot, number 3 of 8, they will continue every three months until I am done. 

I sit here now as the pain of the shot slowly increases, I will be cursing the, nurse, her family, etc for the next few hours until the pain subsides. I joked about it with her, as the last two people who gave me this shot were cursed in the same way. All of the people who I have had the opportunity to work with have been great.

The community that I live in is small and we take care of each other. during the year we have various events that fund community projects. One of these is a Medical Fund. I was fortunate to have this available, as they, contributed funds to help offset the co-payments that I have been making.

Last weekend was the second annual, Turquoise Trail Pack Burro Race, I photographed the first one last year and was contacted to do it again this year. We had double the entries this year, going from 23 to 50 racers. I was a perfect day for the race.

Racing through the Arroyo

This is the start of the race in the Village of Cerrillos

Coming out of the Cerrillos Hills State Park

The Top 3 finishers

My house in the Ortiz Mountains
 March Sunset

My friends flying over my house.

I have planned a trip back to Alaska, I will be traveling up there in the middle of August and returning at the end of September. 

The He/She Bang performance will be performed over two weekends in November. We will have 5 shows, I will post the dates when they are finalized.

The Past Week

 Sorry, I seem to neglect to write on a consistent basis. If you are a frequent visitor you already know this, as sometimes my posts are few and far between.

Last Tuesday I was again in the gallery, it was very slow. I sold 4 of my books, that was it for the day. Good for me, not for the gallery.

After closing up I headed to the monthly, He/She Bang, meeting. We discussed the stage and how it is going to be set up. Then we went through the skits and what they will look like and what props, etc, will be needed. This year the show will run over 5 nights and two weekends in November. Make your plans now, ticket go on sale in October and sell out FAST. All proceeds benefit the Madrid Health Cooperative and the Food Bank for the residents of the town.

I spent some time this week sealing the house from critters that seem to find their way under my house. I have rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice and birds seeking shelter. I have been burying 1/4" wire mesh all around the perimeter of the house. They do not like this at all.

Today, I had planned to photograph a sheep shearing, unfortunately, my GPS decided to make up an address and took me to the wrong place. Hopefully, another one will come up and I will be able to locate it. As I drove through Alcalde I passed a cemetery and went back to get a few pictures. This is La Villita Catholic Cemetery. 

After leaving Alcalde, I stopped at Lowe's in Espanola to get some more mesh.

I then went to the grocery store, this was my fifth attempt to get some frozen lemon juice. I went to the Market Place, as I pulled up I saw the Girl Scouts were there. I had seen they were out selling, though I never was in town on the days they were out. So the first thing I did was purchase two boxes of Thin Mints and two of the Tagalogs. I finally found my frozen lemon juice! I fulfilled my small list and left the store. As I loaded my haul into my trunk a couple walked by and stated that my Thin Mints were gold, they have run out while I was shopping.

A few days ago I had some visitors in my yard.

A Lewis's Woodpecker this afternoon in my yard.

As far as the aftermath of the cancer treatment, except for having to pee constantly and it burns almost every time, I am doing great.