I have started trying to make woodcuts, but so far the operative word is "trying." I'm not cutting the wood so much as shredding it.
I want to be able to do this. I can see the possibilities in the woodgrain as I tear and gouge, but so far all I have for my efforts is a small stack of spoiled wood and a sore wrist. We'll see what happens when I get the right stone to sharpen my tools. They seemed pretty blunt to begin with, so I'm hoping that's the problem.
Another, more serious source of frustration right now is Willa the dog. Every night for over a week, starting around seven o'clock, she starts crapping once an hour until sunrise. Eric and I--mostly Eric, since he stays up later--have been sleeping on the couch to let her out when she whines. Usually we get her outside in time, but not always.
This awful schedule is taking a toll on us and the dog. Willa is exhausted and completely without a routine, so she sleeps all day, and when she is up, it's hard for her to focus. She gets agitated and nippy far too easily, and the bit of puppy training we've been doing seems to take longer and longer to sink in.
Your suggestions are welcome. We've had the vet out once already and have been talking to him every couple of days. She tested negative for worms and parasites, and we have tried Immodium and every diet modification/supplement we can think of. I do know she is very enamored with chewing on sticks and leaves, which we try to keep her away from, but it's fall; there are sticks and leaves everywhere right now, and anyway, the vet doesn't think a little extra fiber would cause quite this big of a problem.
He's bringing us special doggie yogurt and ultra-bland food tomorrow to try before we start the tiers of expensive tests and procedures. I hope it doesn't come to that, but nothing so far has made a lick of difference.
It's kind of breaking my heart, because she is such a great little pup. During the day she's fine. Like I said, she's a little grouchy but otherwise sweet and lively and funny as hell. I just want us all to enjoy her puppyhood, but in addition to fetching and snuggles, we're spending way too much time wielding a box of disinfectant wipes and grimly hustling the poor thing out to the fence line in the chilly dark. Maybe she'll grow out of it?