The Wood's Secret Garden

At 62 years old, I am finding that the more I learn the more I realize just how little I actually know.  At 62, I am also observing that young people, who may have learned a little, seem to think they have nothing to learn from others and that they need not even question themselves about anything they think or do. So I wrote this little poem. If we can't laugh at ourselves, the problem is much bigger than we can even imagine.

  Why was Saturday so FABULOUS? The answer might surprise you. It did me. Back in September of 2021, a young woman from Virginia reached out to me via Facebook (initially) to network regarding art and online sales and marketing. Thinking that I was highly successful because of my 10,000+ followers and my sales on etsy, she thought that I might have valuable information to share regarding how to make a go at it in the online art world. After having to break the news to her that I was the perfect poster child for “The Starving Artist” the conversation turned to her upcoming potential marriage to a young man called into the pastoral ministry and her fear of not being qualified to be “a pastor’s wife”. She had read that my husband had been an ordained pastor years ago and that during my marriage to him had been in full time ministry in differing capacities and hoped that I might be able to provide some insight into what it was like to be the wife of a man called to fulltime ministr...

So blessed to have had my Nephew, Jared Duba, not only do the voice over for this wonderful story; but also, post it on his YouTube channel.  I hope you will take the time to watch. 

 The Adventures of Crump - the squirrel with no tail, is finally coming along. As I work on the book, I will be posting drafts here.  Please feel free to leave your reactions in the comment section.  Thanks! "Crump Meets LT Ombre"  or "How Crump Lost His Tail" By: Dianna Lynne Wood - Draft o8/31/2022 Crump was born in Dark Cedar Village and grew up with a crumpled right ear and no tail.   He had been told by his parents that a Hawk had come in at night when he was just a baby and somehow got frightened away before he could do anymore harm but tear his right ear and take his tail. Once Crump was old enough to go outside, the other squirrels, nick-named him Crump which was short for “crumpled.” The Governor of Dark Cedar Village was very mean and there seemed to be a dark cloud that hung over the Village most of the time.   No one was sure why.   But, Crump knew he did not belong there and told his parents that as soon as he was old enough to leave, ...

I am an artist and an illustrator—not a photographer. I spent most of my adult life in an office behind a computer during the day and doing something creative at night or on the weekends.   I was never fortunate enough to devote myself fully to my art.   Over the years, I probably have experimented in just about every aspect of the creative arts—both visual and performing arts.   However, I have never dabbled in photography until my husband’s daughter gave him (what I called) a “real camera” as a gift for Father’s Day back in 2016.   He graciously let me "try it out” and, poor guy, he never had it in his possession since then.   After retiring and moving to North Carolina in 2017, I really had (for the first time in my life) an opportunity to devote my daytimes to pursuing my creative gifts; and, like most things that I do, I gave it my all.   Over the past five years, I have taken and catalogued over 200K nature shots from our backyard alone.  It is f...

Since I have always said, "I am an artist not a photographer", I decided to turn my photography into a new art form.  New, at least to me! And, since oil paint was my medium of choice back in the late 1970's and early 1980's, I decided to create "Digital Oil Paintings" inspired by the old masters.  I no longer feel the need to challenge myself in that area -- "been there, done that". At almost 62 years of age, I have realized that I need not buy canvases, paints, brushes and medium in order to create stunning images.  I can create a limitless number of images at no cost to me and share them online at no cost to others.  I also know that there are already enough incrediably gifted artists who create amazing oil paintings.  I have no desire to make any more attempts to join those ranks!  I am so excited about this!  I can now make "still lifes" come "to life" by adding creatures of motion  (as many as I want, whenever I want) by c...