I have never created in this studio on my mountain without Zaydee curled up nearby. I find it difficult to return to work without her. Creating the frog sculpture at home helped keep me from the sadness of walking to my studio without Zaydee. I cried while I swept up the sawdust from our last project together. Tears dropped on lids of cans filled with stain as I put things away and readied for the next chapter - the next project - the next inspiration. Patience. Grief. Baby steps…

A new month and a sunshine-filled studio beckoned me into work without tears. The satisfying smell of sawdust and a head full of ideas helps drive me forward.