I became a grandmother on Mother's Day! What a great gift. Everyone is doing great and she is precious.

The rough draft is done!!! I created the calendar project in 2008/ 2009 and began the book in September of 2009. Tomorrow I mail it off to my mentor in WI. Hard to believe! I have no idea what the future holds for it, but I know I've enjoyed the process of working on it. What a ride!!!!

I'm finally closing in on the finish line of the rough draft of my book. I just have to hope that my technology challenged brain has not led me into a trap I can't get out of. I've been revising the draft at the lake and will be heading home in the morning to print out the first flash drives set of pages, illustrations and all. I had a scare or two tonight with the computer but I think I got myself out of the jam I created. I can hardly believe I have done what I have done when I barely know how to turn on a computer. I'm eager to send the draft off to my mentor. I'm a little nervous as well, as no one has seen this thing except me. Then I come back around and realize I have been totally engaged in it's creation and that alone is enough for me even if someone else is less than thrilled with it. I am grateful for the focus it has given me over the last several years. I will miss this part of the process!

Today marks a new beginning. What better symbol could I ask for than what is about to happen today? Teaching my art classes, doing my own art work and developing the calendar project has taught me everything begins with tiny steps. The walls came down in the dining room and up the stairwell this past weekend and our much thought about, planned and re planned remodel has officially begun. I love the fact that the first act of "construction" starts with a new set of steps! These will be safer, easier to navigate and will be built, one step at a time. They will eventually lead to an open and exciting new space upstairs. After all the upheaval in our lives since December it's going to be great to climb new steps to a bright and cheery space. Interesting that my book will be ready for the next step this week as well! Art and life, a series of steps.

Tuli and Dylan are at it again. Just when I needed it a few weeks back I got this shot of them embracing being alive. I'm coming to appreciate all they can teach me. I have many friends and several art students facing challenges of all different types. Life can be hard. But watching these guys doing what they do best, "dog bliss", reminds me to get out there and find my bliss. Each day is special. This week I've started a new group at the college with the part one, "Learn to See as an Artist Sees " class. What a gift it is for me to assist them in this journey as they too, take the leap, a leap in the form of just signing up for the class! I'm totally grateful for this opportunity to work with them and I'm looking forward to taking a few leaps of my own!

It's been a long time since I have written a post. I thought the habit of writing posts had been cemented. But then the news of December 2 , my husbands job loss arrived and while I have managed a few postings, I found myself unable to write them on a regular basis. Something was different.

The other day it came to me, I simply needed the inward quiet time to process, shift , adjust , accept, re-group and create a new and different vision of life and self. The image of the metamorphosis that occurs within the cocoon seems vivid to me now. New life is beginning to emerge from the old. I simply needed to crawl inside for awhile, to be still.

Now, four months later, acceptance of new realities and new possibilities are surfacing. It's time to embrace the changes and move forward. The old is giving way to the new. Many things have changed since early Dec and a new and different comfort zone is emerging. I feel the change.

As all this has unfolded, during this time of inward quiet, I finished the rough draft of my book. I've re structured our budget to accept the financial tsunami we encountered and have totally redesigned our house for this next phase of life. I've taught wonderful groups of students who helped to keep me grounded in what I know, and ultimately brought me full circle to the roots of this blog. I am grateful for what changes us.

Had to go back to this particular tree this weekend. There is something about this tree in this location that beckons me back to this spot. You can see the range of color on the tree. The tree is so tall and is nestled in a ravine, it feels like a scared place with ancient wisdom circling around the forest floor surrounding the tree. I felt both recharged after a visit there and a need to return often. I don't think you can beat the power of nature and art for their restorative powers, if you open your eyes to it.

Odd, I've used a shot of this little tree before in an earlier post and here I am, titling this post, New Beginnings. Tonight tho that is what comes to mind as I look at this recent shot of the same little tree. I took the prior post shot in the fall, no snow in the scene and the tree was camouflaged by brown and tan grasses that surrounded it. Now that same tree is highlighted by the bright white snow, it looks fresh and ready to grow.

I started a new set of classes this week, 6 groups in all. Its a new beginning as we explore the arts at ever deeper levels. Each person attending is bringing an appetite to grow this part of themselves, the artist that resides within. Its exciting to be a part of this process, reminds me of the importance of the journey. Just like my classes are off to a new beginning, so is my life as we re- group after a challenging December. I like this new photo of the tiny tree. Its all about new beginnings and possibilities. Just like my students in class and just like my life. New beginnings and new possibilities.

It certainly has been a challenging 6 weeks, but lately a window has opened. I noticed this shot in my iphoto this morning and it spoke to me about where we have been since early December. Not exactly lost in the woods, but it was hard to see the trees in the forest. Slowly some things have cleared and a path is beginning to open up, much like this small framed window in the distance created by this stand of trees. I think we see a path out of the deep woods that we have been somewhat lost in. With high hopes, I like the image of walking towards the light in this shot. I'm grateful for both the mental and very real image this shot represents to me! Art and visual images really can bring clarity of thought