I read that quote and couldn't help but think of the righteous branch - Cannabis.
Reminded for all the CHILDREN it helps to this day  (and adults) - now MORE than ever... & in our lifetime LEGAL - Miracles do come true!  Every day.  

I noticed when I moved here a common occurrence on the local radio station with constant negative  remarks towards cannabis...  one morning the "D.J" actually commented - it being pretty much a 'joke', that a cannabis worker - would be considered an essential worker. Wow ...   at a time when I know my son & all others are working record amount of hours, struggling like most other companies with all sorts of disruptions, employees health issues, concerns & more growing quality medicine… yes, to many is still is very much a MEDICINE.  
WHO is anyone to judge anyone for anything right now?  
Yet alone  what they choose to heal and help themselves with. I never heard them knocking opiates or alcohol, quite that opposite - the alcohol mentality flourishes, I had no idea the amount of alcohol songs even existed, let alone encouraged with a tune at 9 a.m. cheers, I see why it would be a constant problem for many struggling alcoholics, reminded all day long with song.    I’m pretty sure they understand the power of song.  Also ironic for any radio station, playing the music created by many of the artists who in fact used, promoted and were no doubts inspired by cannabis - to the point songs were indeed created in homage.  Slightly hypocritical - no?

I indeed contacted them and informed them of the importance of essential workers in the cannabis industry, and to please refrain from such remarks in the future.   I was made aware my opinion was not appreciated, probably not - I told them if they continued, I would report them… needless to say the remarks  seemed to have ceased.  I'm done with anyone thinking they can shame or judge anyone for their cannabis use anymore.  The fact that they STILL do only  displays a lack of education & compassion and really - is it a ‘wise’ move, at a time in Canada when Cannabis is absolutely a GROWING - thriving industry?  
More elderly than ever are using cannabis NOW to assist with chronic paint than ever - AMEN.  

Anyhow I’m grateful for the education and solved the issues easily…   
Inhale the good shit & exhale the bad shit - or simply ‘turn off & tune in’.  
Hello Alexa.  :)   Please play some lovely  music without all the judgemental bullshit.
For creating ‘art' (or anything)  the less distraction - ‘opinions of others’ when you are trying to create
 - for the creator…   the better.  
Listen to your heart. Listen to the Lord.  Listen to podcasts! lol 
I  prefer instrumental music best when painting.
Cannabis  is a gift from God.   Don’t let ANYONE shame you for being joyful’ that’s how cannabis makes countless feel… just ask those suffering with cancer.
Amen

How much wood would a wood chuck chuck…. 
I don’t know ask Norm - lol  - Look at our lovely wood cart!  Our house is a bungalow, heated with a lovely wood stove. The stuff we have learned about wood is amusing - and how much wood we need per day- our new cart lasts 2 days - unless it’a a -30  or more- then it might be 2 carts.

It took one year of thought.  It has wheels so we simply wheel it out to the porch when empty and back in when full - super light & easy to move. It holds our cooking tools - we heat most left overs on the wood stove, it also has the cleaning tools we use most - handy dandy.  The top was made from an old cedar door we had - as well as our outdoor coffee table! Reduce & reuse & recycle.  

One side holds kindling/fire starters the other  logs to last a couple of hours. 
On an average day no matter the temperature outside - I get the stove cranked!- Therefore we open the windows & bring in fresh air  - god for the mind & body.  It took a year of learning how we use our stove to create the most efficient cart - if only we had the luxury of time to 'research' all things...
Many of us do have more time, what are you creating? 

The next cart will be a bit fancier- it will have a top with a raw edge like my new coffee table & end table!  He’s so handy - what a creative team we be. Thank God.
It’s made our life easier & our home lovelier ;).   Inspired by love we will not fail.

This spring we start trails, Norm will stock more wood for the winters to come - living here, with a wood stove it needs to be a regular chore- CHOP wood & carry water. Thankful to do so - EVERY DAY!  Time to LOG off so I can LOG on’ and open the windows on this gorgeous day!

It's so beautiful out right NOW - it's easy to imagine spring..  there's still a lot of snow
all around but when the sun shines you can sit outside in a T-shirt. 
I understood something painting this '4 seasons' which took about a week:

                   I spend more time with God at my easel than I ever did in any pew.  

How about you?  

It was paiting with TLC & THC - lots.
​

12 foot Spirit animal totem.
Totem Pole Inspiration.

In elementary school I loved  learning about  Indigenous people - I was obsessed with Totem poles as are many Canadians to this day!  Hand carved on a grand scale - months of work if not a life time… a lifetime of experiences during the gift of the journey - enabling these masters to carve Totem Poles from our great Canadian treasures  - PINE TREES!
We have some tall Pine on the property that tower and sway gently some days - mesmerizing me for hours. These are the trees many totems were caved from  If we have to cut one down - it’s on my to do list, lol.  Imagining Totem poles…   I’ve already sketched the next.  Totem poles are sacred,  I am grateful for Canada's Indigenous people for their contribution to our country then & NOW.   .

I researched online for Animal Spirit representation and Totem poles animal meaning, Indigenous belief, traditions and art - I think back now to how little was actually taught about indigenous people of Canada and the loss of that knowledge, was truly a loss to our entire Canadian culture.  NOW - learning how Indigenous have been treated & continue to be treated - with more than most in incarceration, living in poor communities,  struggling with addiction, racism, government neglect, police abuse & even hospital neglect - it is absolutely not a part of Canada, I am proud of. 

There’s no time like the present to learn about others, to celebrate their gifts so we can all continue the journey together wiser & stronger… as we all walk each other home.     All these Totem creatures mean something, according to charts, my spirit animal is a wolf - my next Totem will be a wolf praying while painting, I intentionally ask God to continue to show me LOVE which keeps me in Awe - creating for the creator… much like the indigenous artists before and after me.

***

We highly recommend  Amend on Netflix. WOW.  Grateful for the education and sad for the realization… there are humans who judge for many things still. I must continually remind myself  people who sit around and INTENTIONALLY think nasty thoughts & acts are miserable, fearful & faithless.  
RISE Above, your faith in God & yourself  WILL  INDEED change the world for the better. 
​Leave it to God, shit will get done! lol   I think Ill paint that for my desk today. 
Norm & I were shocked at what we learned, well… I was until they got to the part about women,  it is by far one of the most inspiring & educational  shows I’ve watched, ever.

Goat Gate Create

For as long as I remember I’ve wanted a gate.. as a kid - I always wanted to live on a farm - what kid doesn’t? Probably those raised on a farm, hee hee.   Farms are work,  life is work so this is good. I absolutely LOVE our little farm and goats & chickens - Im very excited as we have a couple of new baby chicks in the spring coming!  Prissy, Petunia & Petal signs will be added to the farm name board.

     The other day I was looking at my gate & my goat idea arrived, it did not take much thought, just a measurement or two - Norm cut it out & I painted him - he instantly had us giggling - Norm carried it up and it fit the gate like a glove!   So now I have a goat on my gate to greet my guests with a smile - which he has succeeded in doing.    
Next I’m creating a gate bear & maybe a donkey.    Actually, we had a problem with the goat on the gate & have removed him until the spring.. our dogs thinks someone is standing at the gate & growl constantly ..lol  when the weather is better I will walk them up and remind them it’s just a goat on the gate.    

I laughed out loud when I actually saw it on the gate as the udders are perfectly placed.   This is my goal - to make others smile with my art - especially at this time, not many are smiling.  

A friend who lives in high-rise told me the super’ told someone to “wear a mask” & the woman told him to suck her..   holy cow.  I think everyone is sick - OF COVID-  not from it. 
There’s a new level of nasty, some can attribute it to covid  stress & some are just intentionally nasty  using covid as an excuse. 

This is human nature 

I’m creating a list of positives from Covid, I recognize in this chaos the order.
It’s a blizzard out right now, time to warm up the brushes & log on! 
Here is a updated photo of Nugget to make you smile!  She’s so sweet - her horns grow fast and are quite dangerous at the moment, Norm almost got a horn up the nostril the other day and is more aware. lol ​ Norm is getting the goats use to walking on a leash- they don't seem to mind - we might let them explore in the spring.

Have a creative day.

Hello...
                            Just thought I'd send out some love & 'thanks!
​

There is much snow on the ground..  this is how I keep warm sitting at my desk looking out the window imagining bears...  I listened to a CBC Ideas podcast on a book called 'BEAR', By a woman , Canadian & takes place in Ontario, I am yet to find another woman/friend who has read it... interesting for such controversy as being 'risky'.   I ordered it from Masters Bookstore in Haliburton,  Kathy knew which book I was refering to, I should have asked her if she read it, tee hee - this amuses me- such a sweet lovely little lady.

I'm pleased the USA transfer of President' wen't peacefully, I hope.  

This vaccine business is confusing and not at all re-assuring.  Key word, business.
I'm grateful to all who work for all who don't, can't.  All.  Thank you. God Bless.
For all who work at/in hospitals.. and struggle & then must watch others go around  maskless, thank you.  

Today, I will try to paint something to cheer others up.

With THC & TLC,  Georgia

All paintings start with great intentions - or why even start.
Soon some are not going thedirection I first imagined and I start to wonder if I should even continue... yes!  My intentions were good and I just need to remind myself, not let myself talk myself, out of it.  It's easy to do - the difficult task wl be to work through each painting and see it to the end, not give up or walk away.
Isn't that most of us,  full of good intentions?  Are you?  Or are your intentions bad?

My intentions  to have a winter sky that you would want to be drawn to - these vibrant pink cool skies are breathtaking and breath awareness as you see what you say in a cloud of frozen mist.  It also reminds me of how covid can travel.   Soon the bear appeared  but it was going in a direction, I didn't for see.

A friend received his vaccine in the USA, I am happy for him as he is also a teacher & it's important if you are in particular forced to work during the pandemic (which won't be going anywhere soon)  amongst groups in particular, if it eases his mind, I am thrilled for him.  
Something still missing in the panting.. what would thrill this bear?  What thrills me out in the woods in the spring  - we never know what will pop up from under this blanket of snow.

Soon!  As the world turns.. it will be spring and morel season with more fresh air and less confusion surrounding covid (here's hoping).  So even though this painting took a few directions on it's own   it ended well because it started with GOOD intentions.   ;)
What are your intentions, what, who - do you  think about all day & are your intentions good?

​Don't you know...  you reap what you sew.

I'm off with more good intentions, wishes, miracles to meditate on & more.
More bears... the next bear is called the Discovery, sneak peek below.  
Look what a beautiful morning God provided  ALL OF US to start this day with good intentions!

A winter wonderland greets me in the morning before I'm even up, just looking at it makes me calm, I enjoy  resting looking at the snow in thebrances and bluejays flying by.   Until you have to venture out, then it's another story - I don't.   Not that there is anywhere to go...   which is a good excuse to hang out with the dogs and watch the fire, read, puzzled by the new puzzle the world is wondeful  right now, right here.. not so much elsewhere.
Provided I don't turn on any news...   the calm stays with me, us. 
Yesterday I wondered when I'll see Storm again.. May ? June.. what about the vaccine..  
forget it - who can think about all this and not become exhausted...
I'll focus on the Tao way and understand the chaos is part of the plan. 

I don't even know what to think about the president of the USA takeover tomorrow,  I do hope it goes smoothly for the Americans, it's been a difficult few years already.  
What do you think about Canadians in Florida getting the vaccine?
 If I lived in Florida yes, I would probably be upset too to be honest.  
The WHO warning of a moral crisis - no shit.  

Speaking of shit - did you see the netflix special on swearing with Nicholas cage?  
I fucking told you... lol.  Well done & interesting.
I understand why I swear with this twitch.. maybe more people will become understanding with those of us who find it hard to control - if not who gives a fuck... IF my swearing is your biggest concern,  you are a dick and need to put your energy where it's needed - how about world hunger?   In a few years 'Fuck won't mean 'shit.. it doesn't now - only to those with little else to ponder.  

Norm is kicking ass in the kitchen lately and the pounds on my ass are proof.
​Positive pandemic moments= Norms cooking skills have improved greatly.
Back to painting Bears  since I'm feeling a bit bearish' I may as well go with the flow.

Look at the view I wake to each morning!  
It's no illusion or dream  as I watch the stars at night and the sun rise in the morning,  I'm so grateful to God to be here.. I thankful all day every day - I guess that was part of the Plan.

Today up at 4:44  ready to lite the fire, read & await this beautiful day.  Look out the window &  witness the winter wonderland we live in.  My warm up painting, an imagined Jesus, pondering the pandemic current milestone.
2,000,000.   2 Million dead in a year and the way the numbers are rising, it will only take another 3 months to reach another million milestone.  No, I'm not being a pessimist - I read.
Canada is not nearly over the HUMP or curve or what ever you choose to call it yet..   Maybe March.
Vaccine confusion - will we now get 1/2…?   Will 1/2 be good enough?   Will it work with the new strains? Will we have to take a vaccine every year from now on?  What will the side effects be?
The answers seem to be something like this: 
Perhaps, maybe,  we don't l know, there are no guarantees, some it won’t help.
God Bless you.

Hmmmmmm…  much to consider as I paint a bear in the woods.