Where do you get your ideas?  Mostly, I am inspired by people. My son and husband give me much inspiration and as time continues I am meeting more and more medicinal users & people in the industry. This can be from users medicinal and recreational  to compassion clubs, advocates, store owners, growers, people just curious and Happy Hippie fans.  At the TY EXPO I met so many wonderful people- I am very excited to go again as well as to the GMM this summer. 
One person I met was 'Rosebud'. She is a medicinal user. She also grows her own medicine and said most people know it. How can anyone be ashamed of a plant that is helping them to ease their suffering.  As I said,
I believe we meet everyone for a reason.  At her home we sat, ate, talked, laughed and she showed us a couple of her plants.  
People have no idea (I HAD no idea) what is involved with growing.  THE WORK.  ALSO realize that these people who can grow their own medicine  not only have a lot of work but also have serious disabilities!  What angers me is that these people who are licensed to grow and use cannabis are treated in many cases like criminals. The REAL criminals are the ones that prey upon Medicinal users. Who take their medicine, break into their homes.  My neighbor put it frankly a while back... they did not have cannabis and someone broke into their home - while they were sleeping and stole their big screen TV. So scum will be scum regardless of what you have if they want it. I pray these people figure out the concept of KARMA sooner than later.  

I KNOW there are some people growing that do it for other reasons. I will be no ones judge. Hopefully focus will be directed at the true illegal criminals. BUT again. ARE there not much more serious criminals that those who GROW?  Murder, Human trafficking, Child abuse.   
  
 If Cannabis were to become legalized. I do believe the crime regarding it would be less. IF Cannabis were legalized, we would educate our children properly on the subject. If Cannabis became legalized I would not have to worry about my son's medicine and how we can access it. I am grateful for Compassion clubs. CLEARLY there is a need. Anyhow I hope to meet many more people like Rosebud. Thank you for sharing your experience and you company. We had a great day. HEMP HEMP HORAY! For all designated growers who are providing a quality medicine to ease suffering
 I THANK YOU! 
If everyone who used it admitted it... there would be nothing to talk about.
I'd have to think of something else to draw!

I have been doing much thinking about that I want to accomplish in 2011.
First my new year is staring on such a positive note. Thank God.  I can't wait to see my strip The Happy Hippie in to new magazines! The Green leaf I should get in the mail anyday (I'll post a photo when I do) and also NUG magazine.  I have checked out both and they both have areas dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis. I am more inspired each day to draw - sometimes for different reasons but mostly becausee it is my son's medicine and I know how much it helps him. In many ways. 

I want to make sure in 2011, I give thanks. For everything. Friends, Family good people I meet, great experiences we have. NOTHING NEGATIVE. There is already too much negative news. I want my comic strip to show what is important to me and hopefully to many others. I want it to make people think, get curious and stand up for what ever it is they believe in. 
I will use my gift to try to make the world a better place. Drawing is what I do. What I love to do. I am inspired with each new person I meet. I hope to draw each inspiration and do it justice. 

With my own health issues this year I have thought out time and the lack of it. How we all have so little. I hope to make the most of each day. I pray for strength and wisdom.  Mostly I will be thankful for each day I am blessed with to spend with my husband and son and remember that it really is all about. I look forward to making new friends , strengthening the ones I already have and are positive people in my life.  Letting go of those who
harm. Moving on and knowing when to do so. 

I will become the change I want to see. I will do acts of kindness every day.
I will thank God for each new day. i will bring Buddha into my life to help me live simply and peacefully. I will bring everything into my life that helps me achieve this. 2011 - BRING IT ON! I'M READY!   

It is Christmas eve!  It will be a quiet Christmas. We will be going to mass this evening and I can't wait. It is one of the few times that my guys come with me.  As I have said before I believe that what ever you Believe - that makes you a better person is all GOOD. For me it is God and Jesus. Tonight we celebrate the birth of our saviour. The best gift ever given.  Here is the first photo of Storm. Taken at 4 months - in his first Tux! LOL  He was the best gift God ever gave to us. I thank God for him every day. 
What we have gone though as a family has only increased our love for each other. Together we will continue to be here for each other.  Christmas is not about Gift - although.. Storm is pretty excited for his gift this year! ;-))
It is about the people in our lives that make our life richer with their gifts.


Gifts of encouragement, laughter, kindness, friendship and LOVE.
This year I am Blessed to say I have several very good people in our life. Tonight I will thank God for all of them for my Christmas Gifts. 
But by far the best Gift we ever received... A Miracle.

Every Year (starting at 4 months) I have a photo of Storm with Santa.
over the years it is my most cherished decoration. That and my nativity.
You see the stages through the ages, I remember each photo even the outfits!  I thought I was lucky when he got to 12 and I had to really coax him.  But now - tonight.. my son gave me my Christmas gift!  My PHOTO! How cool is this? He knows how much I love these photos.  
He went with some friends, stood in line so I could have my photo! I have the greatest Kid in the world ;-)  Handsome too!  Tomorrow I will scan and post the first.
I am Blessed.

The card I drew this year combines a few things. The 3 very wise men bringing gifts such as herbs and incense, everything that was most valuable for The KING is born. The Birth of Jesus. A man better than any other. You know the story. The ultimate love story.
Also the 3 wise men represent: Hear no evil, See no evil and Speak no evil.
A simple rule I try to live by. Easier said then done.  As always I had fun drawing it. I thought, I am drawing a birthday card for Jesus. 
I put TLC into every brush stroke. xox  Merry CHRISTMAS! <><


The original has jewels stuck al over it & Gold foil, It is very cool.
It was my meditation for today. 

Storm braved the snow to the mailbox for me. If you do not know I do not like snow! LOVELY to look at but thats about it. I live in Canada and do not know how to ice skate. The mail box - just around the corner had what I was waiting for!  The new Treating Yourself magazine!!  
Before I was in treating Yourself ( The happy Hippie) we would buy it at the corner store because we found it to be one of the most informative, educational and entertaining magazine out there.  I read it from cover to cover. Before TY it was Oprah ;-) 

Now my strip The happy Hippie has been in the magazine since issue 16, 2009. I can't tell you how THRILLING it is a a cartoonist to pick up a magazine and see your work in it!  BUT to have a magazine that you believe in, Inspires you! It's a dream come true. 

I feel blessed to be in Treating Yourself. Over the years I take copies to Dr.s, give them to friends to read and leave it out on my coffee table for all to browse. I am PROUD to be a cartoonist but I am even prouder to be someone that might make people smile and think about Cannabis. 

6 years ago I set out to become a syndicated cartoonist! Little did I know that a few years later, It is not about syndication but more importantly  about bringing an awareness to others about Cannabis as medicine. I know first hand what Cannabis can do. I witness it every day. God has put us on this path (Thank you!) I get to use my gift - that brings me happiness and peace! My son gets pain relief from Cannabis. 

Last week someone sent me a copy of TY in the mail to please autograph!
WOW! How cool was that!? It included a SASE to send it back to The U.S.A. I was honored and slipped in a matted toon to say thanks! 

If you get a chance pick up your copy and see why I am so proud.
I do not even submit my work to the syndications anymore. I am quite content doing what I am doing. It is with LOVE and that is all that matters. 
Time to go make a tea, snuggle with my new magazine and have a good read and get inspired! 

My kitty watching the fire.. Mmmm.. nice warm fire.
TODAY was a snow day for sure! Time for warm P.J.s
A hot toddy and bed! Cheers Patti! 

Men so many men. So little time.. ha ha ha


I am thankful for Men. Men all around the world. Because of the internet mostly I have friends all over. Some I have had for several years, some a few months. But I realized today how many great men I know. I am blessed! 


Jim. Jim gives me the best gift I could ask for. He give me my paper cut to size. He has so that I can DRAW. He has no idea how grateful I am for this.
Friends for over 20 years - who knew that I would have a paper provider! LOL More importantly I have had a good friend for that long. He makes me smile all the time. I look forward to our lunches as strange as some may have been -will be.  I love him dearly and am Thankful for him. 


Norm. I am so thankful for Norm. Too many reason on so many levels. 
Mostly for supporting me always. Not just financially but in what ever I have chosen to do.  He is my biggest fan and provides me with much material.
He loves us unconditionally. He makes me mad, drives me nuts and makes my skin crawl like no other!! GRRRRRRRRRR.  But I too, am not a perfect princess.. The honeymoon is over and we are still here. I love him dearly.  THANK you


Storm.  What a fine young man if I do say so myself. I am so proud of him. Mostly for his strength. His passion and ambition.  He makes me laugh. He also gives me much material. He is my sunshine.  He always knows when I need a hug. He has taken his photo with Santa for the last 18 years because it is my favorite decoration!  HInt Hint.. hee hee hee he is the Love of my life..


Sam, Chuck, Josh, Ivan, Jim (different), Jesse, Mike, Joe, Don, Gabe, Marco, Kevin, Carter,Ben, Paul, Rob, Tom, Bill, Chris, Jack, Philip, Jesus! 
Oh, too many to mention.  All making my life a little richer. 
I love you dearly.   xox <><

When I hear that I associate it with 2 wonderful things.
One is the POT luck Christmas diner. It was last Friday. How nice to see all the ladies out for Christmas wishes. We start with a song holding hands in a circle. ALWAYS reminds me of The Grinch and Whoville. Brings instant warmth to my heart.  HUGS galore. But come on the best part >>> The POTs!
The best salads, desserts and dishes around! ALL MADE with TLC for me! 
A Church Chatter Buffet!
My plate piled high (saving lots of room for Carm's baked beans)  I went back for seconds.  It is a comfort food calamity to our waistlines! But here I sit 3 days later salivating at my memories.   No - the best part is the people. Laughing, talking, sharing all brought together in faith.  Many women who have been attending for years! Safe to say a decade or 2.. also the few new friends joining us, There is always enough food and laughter to go around. I look forward to attending many more. It is easy for my faith to be strong when I am surrounded by such a great group of women. 
Next year I'm bringing brownies. ;-)


I lay in bed last night saying The Rosary. -I do get distracted from time to time  when I say The Rosary, it is always with positive thoughts. Thinking .. we just have to lose the negative stigma attached to cannabis. I need to focus on this. Then before I could continue, the cartoon was already forming in my mind. I was again... Inspired. 
I realized. It MUST always be for the greater good. 
xox <><

Sigh... We all have colds in this household.  I go from bed to boredom to trying to draw.  I have to draw the last page for the Happy HIppie comic book and I want it to be a coloring page! With my mind stuffed up I do not feel it will be the best I can offer. Perhaps I will feel better tomorrow.