(my beloved Morab gelding Brave Independence)

My Mother's Family originated from Wales and Scotland through the Morgan and MacRae clans. My Grandfather was an engineer for the government and after he retired he returned to the family farm in Michigan where he still used his team of Morgan horses. Sadly much of our family heirlooms were sold by family members, not thinking how much they might be appreciated by us kids. Items brought over from Scotland and Wales, My Grandfather's Morgan harnesses which I would just love to have! And it is my dream to find our family's bagpipes which was adorned with the Macrae family plaid and played by my Great Grandfather. Music and art is a major part of my family on both my Mother and Father's side. We have so many musicians, artists, engineers, computer technicians, and many many pilots in our family (not sure why I still am a bit squeamish to fly). My Father's family is clouded in intrigue. My Maiden name Ponto, means ship builder and as many names were taken from people's line of work it seems fitting that so many in my father's family were builders. There seems to also be a strong interest in art. My father was said to take old wooden shingles in the depression and spend all day as a child carving scenes of ships and sailors. Funny that he at that time did not know the meaning of his sir name. How destiny works amazes me. He loved ships and the ocean and after school joined the Navy. He could build and carve anything. I would sit at his feet for hours as a child watching him carve an Eagle from a chunk of wood. He taught me so much about making things but mostly not to be afraid to do anything that I wanted to accomplish. Sadly my father passed away in 2000 but I think of him every day and specially as we build this house in Arkansas ourselves. He would be very proud of the things we are doing here.

We recently moved from Illinois where I was born and raised to Arkansas. (Our pretty little Illinois grey farmette, pictured above) WOW what an adventure. I married my high school sweetheart and he is an adventurous cus. With talks of moving to Alaska, Canada, upper Minnesota! I thought Arkansas would be the most civilized choice. Hmmmmm WOW it is WILD here. We went from northern Illinois where it is expensive to live but there are really little bugs, mild summers, a bit of snow but no big deal,..... to......THE JUNGLE! The Ozarks of Arkansas are some of the most beautiful stretches of land in the US. A bounty of wildlife and pure cold clean trout rivers. For a naturalist , her adventurous husband and toddler this was awesome. We went from a pristine 7 acre farmette in the suburbs to 65 acres of raw and untamed land with a shell of a log home sitting on top of one of the last Ozark ridge mountains before you hit the great "Delta" of the Mississippi valley region. We thought we were pretty darn cool, till the first spring hit and we were covered from head to toe in chigger, ticks, and flea bites. Beating off Rattlesnakes and Copperheads at every turn, and the pain of realizing that most of everything that had already been done in this shell of a house had to be redone before we could start finishing the inside. This put us WAY over budget and what we had planned to finish in one year will not take us 10. We wondered just what the Hell we had gotten ourselves into! ( Our Ozark mountain cabin in Arkansas below, building the barn, AND the interior work which we have done 100% by ourselves. WOW what a mess it was!) 

I guess we must be pretty tough but we are going on three years here now. Our house is probably 50% completed but we are taming this beast of a mountain and learning the ways of the Ozarks. It is feeling much more like home and our family has never been closer. Everything is harder here but for some reason it is more appreciated. A simpler, quieter, slower and less materialistic lifestyle. It is not for everyone THAT IS FOR SURE, but we love it !  (The "Swimmin' Hole below. YES we have our own swimming hole, probably one of the most gorgeous spots in northern Arkansas, with it's small waterfalls and 100 foot rock cliffs)

We found what I would argue vehemently as the best little school in the nation for our now 6 year old son. It is hard to believe he was three when we moved here. Building fences, barns, clearing woods, and attempting to finish a house with a three year old is well.....a challenge. Now he is as his genetics designed him. Always painting, building, AKA destroying things. Him and his Dad attempt to skip out of work every chance they can to go fishing and I can't say I pass the opportunity by myself. If we can ever get this place finished I can finally concentrate 100% to my art career, but I am learning to be more patient, it will come.

I think I was drawing and dreaming about horses when I was in the womb. Anyways it is who I am genetically, there's no trying to deny it. I am destined to a pauper's wage but happy as a fat cat about it.

Well that's it about us. I will have a weekly blog on my art website for my "Adventures With Deep Woods Off"  So many people have e-mailed me about photos I have sent them and tales of my adventures photographing this part of Arkansas for reference materials for my paintings that it was finally, by request, that I start this thing. I barely have time to do anything but will try and update it weekly.

A little about the MacRaes:

MacRae Clan This Celtic name stems from the Gaelic, ‘sons of Grace’. The Macraes were most numerous around Kintail in Wester Ross, where they appear to have become supporters of the Mackenzies. Duncan Macrae was a constable of Eilean Donan Castle and acquired for himself the lands of Inverinate. The MacRaes were so fierce in their adherence to their Mackenzie overlords that they became known as ‘Mackenzie’s shirt of mail’. In 1539 the Macdonalds, under Donald Grumach, fourth of Sleat, besieged Eillean Doan Castle as part of their attempt to revive the shattered Lordship of the Isles. Macrae is credited with slaying the Macdonald chief with an arrow , bringing the siege to an end. The fortunes of the Mackenzie’s prospered and they obtained for themselves the title, ‘Earl of Seaforth’. The Macraes basked in the reflected glory and were invested with the hereditary constableship of Eilean Donan Castle and also created chamberlains of Kintail. There were numerous cadet houses, including the Macraes of Conchra, Clunes and Feoirlinn. The family was not only renowned for its military prowess. Duncan Macrae, born around 1640 was educated at Edinburgh University and composed Gaelic poetry. Lieutenant Colonel John Macrae, born in 1861 served in the Black Watch, and was both deputy keeper of the Place of Holyrood and a member of the Royal Company of Archers (bodyguard of the monarch in Scotland). Colonel Sir Colin Macrae of Feoilinn. Who was knighted in 1935, served with distinction throughout the Boer War and was not only a member of the Royal Company of Archers, but also a lieutenant in the bodyguard of the English monarch, the Yeoman of the Guard.