I'm going through a change, mentally, spiritually. A small phrase "If you can?" pulled me under and I am still stuggling to reach the top. I know that what I have given my heart and life to believe is worth the trip. I know that my husband and I may struggle, but we will struggle. I know that the trials of today will one day be over and for this life, there will be new trials to face.

My load is heavy. But there is help to carry and bear and I've just gone on trying to carry it and take on more and more.

I walked in old familiar places with a sapphire sky and air so thin it hurt to walk at times. I woke to cold mornings and went to bed warm at night. I heard stories - some I'd already heard, some new. I took pictures of vistas, family and delicate flowers. It ended all too soon with too little accomplished, but then when I came home, I realized it was as it should be.

At one point, my grown daughter stood in my camp for a little and then said "Gee, you really can be all things to all people all the time." There was a hint of sarcasm. Well, not really a hint. It hurt my feelings at first but it got me thinking about why I'm overloaded.

My classes are picking up regularly. But I still hope to blog more again. The picture of a columbine was taken with a 35-80 set at about 50 with a No. 2 close-up lens at about 11,500 feet altitude.

Blessings.

In September of last year, we moved my daughter and 3 children into our home to gel back into a family and stabilize. It was also a chance for her to work in an art field and see if she was truly fitted for that work. It was a chance for her to have a new beginning away from the old experiences that led to incarceration and rehabilitation. She's a creative, energetic person. She's maturing some from her 40 year old teen state.

It has been the best/worst experience of my life. I have never felt old before, though I must say I look in the mirror and can see the effects of the years. It has demolished my own creativity and my will and has probably destroyed my marriage. I know the marriage could not have been destroyed if it had been strong. That was my one misgiving when the whole thing started. The effect on my studio took me by surprise.

Now I'm ready to do it differently even if it's wrong. I'm still sorting out the details of this whole thing and sorting my own emotions and commitments as well. A week ago, I spent 5 hours from Shreveport to my home reviewing and reconsidering the past several years and I was disgusted with what I finally owned up to. I am a loyal and tenatious person, but hopefully not a stupid, gullible one.

Sunday I took some pictures to use as the reference material for a new artwork that I envision as different than anything I have produced in the past. I am excited to try even if it doesn't follow my vision. I also drove out to look at our newly dedicated state park and hope to hike the beginning of the trail soon. I intend to do it as a solitary hike - perhaps the first 30 to 50 miles anyway. Even if it doesn't happen that way, it is an invigorating thought. I also intend to kick the others off my computer and out of my study as much as possible so I can begin writing and blogging and perhaps refocus.

So for all the friendships I have lost through neglect, I apologize whether you read or not and hopefully some will be reinstated and others will be formed for this was a strong creative force in my life.

Blessings.

I have been a blogger on 360 for two years. My daughter talked me into trying it. I didn't really know what to expect, but I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. I've met so many wonderful people here. I don't make it around often though I do come and look in occasionally. Since my household has grown, there's not much extra time. Two of the four have been off to a summer camp and I will soon get one of those back with a trio more for a week.

I've started blogging some and posting pictures on Multiply. It's okay, though nothing like 360 was in those learning days. There's a link on my main page and another on my website which I have, by the way, reworked and am reworking to serve my students and my art a little better. If you look in on me at www.geocities.com/arthog9/ please leave me a comment. I'm always looking to understand how people see things.

Well, I'm getting ready to go teach at a camp for underpriviledged children. I wrote a piece on it in my first few blogs if you want to go back that far. I've been doing this for 3 years and it's a blessing.

The picture of the lighthouse I designed and built with my husband's help was taken before the roof was put in place on the treehouse portion of the light house. We also have windows now, a loft and solar lights. We still need climbing walls, benches in the playhouse portion, a ladder to the loft and the crawl through holes for the climbing wall. Beside it will be sand loungers (sans sand), a table from a large wire spool with an umbrella, and a long slide going down the hill.

"Steel Creek Project", DWoodall, 2008, 24" x 36", oil on canvas.

Those who frequent Multiply will have seen this painting already. The painting was begun in acrylic on site. I misplaced the canvas and lost the resources for quite a few years. When we moved in here in 2004-early 2005, I uncovered the picture in its most basic form. Finally I found the resource pictures I had taken so long ago.

Years ago, the state of Arkansas began a specie restoration program which included reintroducing elk. The first couple of efforts didn't work too well, but we learned. This picture was begun when the effort was fairly new. Now we have a thriving elk herd in the northern part of the state. So two efforts have met with reasonable completion. Mine and the state's!