I wanted to make a little hand-out for kids that might come to the EXPO, and for kids in general. A conversation starter. There have been several children over the years.
One page. Something to color with the added bonus of a few folds and a simple cut and you make a cute little book. Saw it on PIN.  I drew this today and have since asked FB friends their opinion of what should be in a book. I have a few new ideas and hope to try to keep making these pages and keep them circulating!

Every page is an opportunity to talk to your children about Cannabis and making healthy choices in general! Please feel free to copy and print it out I have also added  photos that  show you where to cut and how to fold below the coloring sheet ;-)!!
Print out a few and plant the seed of TRUTH in young minds &  you plant the seeds of curiosity,  understanding and compassion as well!  Have fun!  XOX
I hope it works  I will ask a friend tomorrow how to load it so you can download it as a coloring sheet.

Love thy neighbor.

There is a reason ‘that is a good’ one if you ask me. Your neighbors know you best.

 I love my neighbors. They are all human to me, I see them daily, see they all have to shovel the drive way, know we all pay our taxes, deal with domestic bliss and try to keep our kids safe. Wave, smile, a friendly hello... off we go.

My neighbors have my back and I theirs. I once saw a car go through my neighbors fence! The person tried to leave and I told them forget it! It was allot of damage. I saw a teen jump a fence into a neighbors yard and take something, I phoned him, he confronted the teen in the act. Just being a teen.   I’ve returned lost pets and kids!  I have also had the pleasure of teaching many kids over the years and don’t get me started on Halloween! LOL  Over the years I have gone to my neighbors  for sugar, batteries, propane propane, eggs, lawnmower, a vacc, many reasons over the years, locked out of my house, to give extra tomatoes, sell Halloween kitties door to door..

(I have returned the favors with art over the years.)

I especially like to keep an eye on the elders. ;-) I have stopped a bit of school ‘walk home bullying’ over the years ;-( so sad. One little guy I had to drive home he was so afraid. I live between 2 elementary schools.  I have had people say I should mind my business. PLEASE my neighbors and kids are my business!   I do mind my business, I have never called the cops on a neighbor. We all have our parties, we all get loud from time to time, we all aggravate each other, so what. That is life, but living side by side like any good relationship we have to; not sweat the small stuff.

LOL one of my neighbors has been learning electric guitar (say no more..) BUT we heard him this spring and we all commented - Hey! He’s getting better, and all laughed. Thank God. I’m even looking forward to the electric guitar this summer ;)

So..  say you smell Cannabis from next door. SO WHAT?  Do you know your neighbor? Do you know what they are dealing with? Will you call the cops or will you not?   I figure as long as no one is being hurt, it is not my business. An easy decision when you learn about the facts between alcohol and cannabis.
Do not judge a book by its cover or the person by the pain medication they choose! 

I KNOW I have friends in HIGH places and trust me you would never think they sit back at night to enjoy a little reefer - medical or not. 
I cannot make excuses for stoners or drunks. We all have that neighbor, perhaps I was one of them over the years- I had a few wild parties.. ;-)   WE ALL DO! 
Love thy neighbor have their back! Don’t judge them over a smell.  
Kinda like judging someone over curry, coffee or CIGARS! < YUK.  
Are we not being judged enough by the world as it is?
Are we not entitled to enjoy our homes, and NOT have to stress about what 
eases our pain?

Many people who smoke cannabis medically and recreationally are far from STONERS or bad people.  You never know what goes on behind closed doors. 
Smelling Cannabis should be the least of some peoples worries.
xox <><

We all know someone who or knows directly a police officer who does not agree with Cannabis laws. I have met a few "I don't agree with it, it's my job"  Tough call.  Yes, we need our jobs, we need to pay bills and provide for our families but what happens when it becomes one of your kids who is up on Cannabis charges? Will your tune then change or if you are a politician (who is a complete hypocrite) will you have the charges dropped: http://gothamist.com/2013/04/26/medical_marijuana-hating_assemblyma_1.php

Educate yourself.  Many police are admitting - finally- that they too should be doing more important things!  L.E.A.P = http://www.leap.cc/  is a fantastic organization that promotes education on drug prohibition and it's failing history. There are Judges, police officers and politicians that, when they feel they can - when their job is no longer on the line, will admit to Cannabis being a waste of time and money.  Listen to the former police captain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8yYJ_oV6xk
I for one look forward to the day when they can return to serving and protecting instead of bulling and beating over Cannabis, a plant.    
xox <><  

Music for your blog reading enjoyment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzs1K3caXJk
Wow, this cartoon smacked me right in the head ;-) Awesome.
It started with a joke from my best bud Cathy.♥ 
I was stressed wondering what to draw for 4/20?! 
The universal day of 
Celebration for Cannabis!!! 
A Plant.
Grown from a seed.
Made by *GOD.
(*original patent holder)


Medical, Recreational, Hemp, Food, Fuel.. 
It's the day and I want to say THANK YOU!  
                                       I have said it so many times, I thank God daily for this Plant! 
Give us this Day our daily Bud...  <3 Wow. YES,   I read recently  how powerful that prayer is;  Give us this dayour daily bread,  -not thanks for yesterday, or make sure I have it tomorrow. Give us THIS day.  Focus on today.
.. and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,
 and that                 ^ ^        ^  That simply put means  ^    ^  ^             :
                                               PEACE, PEOPLE!  
Religion aside... who can argue with those lines?  How else are we going to get ahead, clearly WAR is not the answer! 
Thank you Marvin, now in my head for the rest of the day.
People all around the world who suffer over a plant. A plant less toxic than many others,  proven helpful to ease pain, yet illegal and lives destroyed because of it.    
WTF?   O.M.God.  How disappointing.  
A PLANT.  While others  rape, kill, abuse, terrorize, suffer & starve needlessly... 
enough with the bullshit distraction. 
FOCUS on the REAL problems at hand. 

Rise Up people! Speak up! <3   Celebrate this Plant! Let it be a symbol of change.
It all starts with a SEED!!!  Life.

So.. Yes!
     Give us this Day our daily bud, 
       and thank you Lord  for it!
I do! Everyday! Keeping the Love of my life happy - How could I not give thanks?
Celebrate 4/20, Spread Peace and Love !!! 
- there are already enough assholes doing the opposite;-)


xox <><

I met William on Fb  a long time ago... I don't know who became who's (WHOM?)  friend, but I can tell you I have grown fond of him. I knew him before Ryuu ;-)  He makes me laugh. I'm not always sure why. I find him honest and upfront.
He has had me slightly 'ticked' to put it nicely, a few times! Once about breast feeding.  He gets me thinking.  I like his wife and I have never even seen her, usually only what banter William decides to share.  I think he is one of my favorite dads. It has been interesting for me watching and seeing the posts of a stay at home dad.... anyhow I am thankful for meeting them and look forward to watching the family grow 
;-) .  Ask and you shall receive, and he did. G

It Has Been A Year and My Baby Is Not Even Broken. 
By William F. Steele

On April 17th Ryuu Dio Steele will be turning over his first leaf. My child will be one years old. It will be a joyful day filled with all kinds of grilled meats and cakes. Let us also not forget it will be a day of swollen egos. You see I suffered through many “talks” being told too many times on how I am one of those who will never really understand what it is like to truly raise an offspring just because, you know, I have male parts. Because of all those little talks I am overly ecstatic to be here with my testosterone filled battle cry “the babe lives! Ye woman folk can move along now RawR!”

As my baby boy’s birthday nears I find myself looking back at all the little “talks” I had gotten from parents-in-the-know. Some ranged from what brands of diapers to get while others explained how colors of cups will dictate my child’s sexual preference. Some I listened to most I ignored and in the end other than a few scrapes I have made it through the first year with an intact child. You may applaud now as I take a bow. Thank you! Thank you!

Before I get feedback of “well you had it easy your wife worked and did chores” I would like to bring up during my first year as the main caregiver I was going through some drama of my own. Short version of a long story: A few months before my son’s birth my mother dies in front of me. Being a huge momma’s boy I really miss my mother. It’s funny. I can’t touch bacon anymore because I can still taste it from when I was doing CPR on her on a morning a few days before my birthday. Now no dwelling let us move on to a month before my son’s birth my house was invaded by 20 or so combat ready individuals because a friend decided to make a snitch’s paycheck. He knew being the cannabis activist that I am I would most likely have a few cannabis plants here and there plus he knew just what to say to get me to hand one over. Thirty two years old never been arrested the first time a cannabis plant leaves my home a friend gives me up for some drug money. Isn’t that just funny let me tell you once I realized who had snitched me out my cell mates all looked at me a little worried as I laughed so hard I could not breath. Oh ya before I forget about how I also was stuck playing nice to my father’s other family as she moves into my mother’s house and drives my mother’s car. No comment move along nothing more to see here. Now throw in general bad luck stuff like how I threw my back out getting out of bed when my wife’s water broke and that pretty much sums up the disadvantage parts going on during the first year or so.

I do not bring up these woeful times to glum your day I bring it up to show off my brilliance as a stay at home parent. During this time when it would have been understandable to just shut down I put on a smile, did a little laugh, and pulled up my big boy pants so I could play the role that was set before me.

And these are a few random things I’ve learned. Over these past months.

Changing Diapers Suck! And I still have not decided yet what is worse: breathing through my nose or through my mouth. Tough call do I just want to smell it or smell it and taste it in theory if I breathe through my mouth. Even if you try to go all rodeo and get it done at record speed it still sucks. As soon as the rugrat was able to sit up on his own bathroom training began. It has been a long slow road but the outcome will be its weight in gold.

This bit of advice I will have to give credit to mother’s worldwide. “When the baby sleeps you sleep!” That is such a golden rule it would be wise to burn it in to your memory if you’re a first time parent.

It does not matter what color, cloths, or if I love hello kitty my child has an even chance of becoming straight, gay, or cross gender. It irks me to no ends when a parent-in-the-know tries to push the idealism that he must conform. I have no time for this foolishness because in the end it is not the neon pink and purple sippy cup that could make him gay. Pretty sure it would be the interest in other males he develops on his own time through his own experiences that does it.

The day will come when he finds some one he wants to share his love with and it will be a happy day that’s all I know. The idea where the option of shaming him to change to the “norm” causing confusion and self loathing that can very well drive him out of our lives or worst lead to one day where we find him hanging in his own closet is just unheard of in this house hold. The king of the castle has spoken so be it ordered.

Anyone can learn a lot by listening to the advice from another. But there was this one statement that I would hear every now and then that would just drive me right up the wall. “He is too young for that.” Well of course he is too young to understand physicist Brian Cox talking about whatever he seems to be excited about that day. I don’t expect him to. Nor do I feel my baby has to be able to grasp all of the sign language we practice throughout the week. The goal is to lay down the tracks for when he is at the point where he should be able to understand it. It’s a pity that so many parents will limit their child just because they are too young. 4 months into Ryuu’s life he was responding to me with simple nods and crude signs of yes or no. Once we had this crude way of communicating I knew right then age limit is just a limit of the mind. I still believe in this theory as I practice math on chalk boards with Ryuu sitting on my shoulders.

On a side note when Ryuu learned that if he signed “up” he will get thrown into the air great for him but for me I ended up doing reps of thirty lifts a day as he grew heavier. But as time went on we started to branch out into other feats of daring acrobatics like now of days he is practicing how to stand on my shoulders as I walk around. We have so much fun that all started with the American Sign Language sign for “up”.

Yes I have a child, yes I am worried about going to prison, no I will not stop being an open cannabis activist. As of a few weeks ago we have decided to up my game and try my hand with politics at a local level. The idea of leaving these unjust cannabis prohibition laws where they are scares me more than prison. The idea that my child might have to go through an arrest like I had experienced sends chills down my spine that fuels an anger inside of me.

No one has ever died from an overdose of cannabis and it’s a plant with thousands of uses. With hard work I’ll be able to show my child that if the people stand up against unjust practices they can be stopped. This will be one of the most important lessons I teach my child I believe.

Now if you happen to live in Alabama don’t forget to vote for William F. Steele in 2018. Your support would be greatly appreciated. https://www.facebook.com/WilliamFSteele

To leave you hungry for more I will brush up on the topic of food. Most understand it as one must eat to live but around here it is live to eat. My fear from all of the “talks” was I would be doomed to serving nothing but chicken nuggets and hotdogs. As a hobby chef and a cookbook author I was terrified let me tell you. I am just that skilled or I must have lucked out. No lie I have a little food disposal unit. It does not matter, veggies, seafood, sweets, meats, he is willing to eat it as long as it is offered to him. The fact that he was willing to eat anything opened the doors for so many healthy dishes without much fuss but plenty of adorable messes.

Seeing that rugrat gobbling up a simple chicken stir fry with a huge grin and smacking those lips is one of my favorite feelings. The simple joy of knowing I won’t ever need to offer Ryuu over processed foods just so he will eat is the greatest. One of my favorite cooking tips is to add hemp seeds to your meals. Those little seeds are packed full with so much healthy goodness its foolish not to add them.

Rugrat Approved Chicken Stir Fry
Can server 2 adults 1 child
1 pound of thinly sliced chicken breast or 2 deboned chicken thighs thinly sliced up
½ a cup of chopped onion
4 crushed and diced garlic cloves
Pinch of red pepper
1 table spoon of hemp seeds
½ a cup of sliced mushrooms
½ a cup of sliced bell peppers
½ a cup of (veggie of choice)
Splash of cooking oil
Soy sauce to taste (I usually use about 1/3 cup of soy sauce)
1-2 teaspoon of honey (optional)
1teaspoon of corn starch dissolved in a little water (if you want a thick sauce)

Let us start by pre heating the oil in a large wok or frying pan over a med high heat. To this we need to add the garlic giving it enough time to release its flavor without burning.

The chicken will go in next along with the soy sauce, pepper and add the honey if you want a sweet twist. Allow it to cook for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Now it is time for the veggies and depending on how you enjoy your vegetables depends on when to add them. I generally add them all in at the same time just allowing them to heat up throughout. I love keeping the crispiness of vegetables when I am cooking for myself but to each their own.

Once the vegetables are cooked to your liking you’re done unless you would like the sauce to be thicker. Lower the heat to a simmer then stir in the corn starch water mixture. The sauce will turn milky for a minute but will clear up as it mixes in so don’t panic. Allow it to simmer allowing the sauce time to thicken up to almost a syrup texture.
Serve on top of rice and Enjoy!

William sent me his cookbook! Probably not knowing I don't cook. BUT I figure IF I do cook - It will be from this book, and I will let you know how it went ;-) . William is also ambitious and hey WHY NOT! We have one shot at this life- I wanted to be a syndicated cartoonist, I have people who share my cartoons all over the world. ;-) And TEACH RYUU to reach fro the stars too!  You can get his cook book at:   http://www.amazon.ca/Cannabis-Cuisine-Whipping-Some-ebook/dp/B0053YQEMG

January 12, in Canada and I'm outside in a  'Keswick dinner jacket'! lol 
I had to, Daisy takes all her toys outside, armed in boots (of course) and my coffee in hand,  it is a mess outside and I am loving every second of it! I have not really been out back since before the surgery. 
So nice I had to go in sit in my favorite place!

* Rant warning! Read no further if you think I don't get angry.  As much as I try to stay positive - IT gets the better of me-  I have to get & let it out.

From time to time I am compelled to draw the same cartoon with  a twist. WHY? 
Because it is the same bullshit - different day. I have drawn this one far too many times.

I thank GOD when people say "Storm looks great! "
Yes he does!! ***BEAMING***  
He eats healthy - and he is the one that has his dad and I  also eating better.
He drinks very little alcohol - perhaps a beer from time to time. 
He works out at he gym. He is determined NOT to let his bone disease get the better of him. This however does not mean he is not in pain. He is never really out of pain.
With his medicine - Cannabis - he able to control it where it is NOT controlling him.
I don't know if you get that. I don't care.

He works hard to look good and keep his body as healthy as he can. 
It does not mean his bone disease in not progressing. It is. We know it. He knows it.
and we don't give a f*ck if you know it or not..  (oops control)

LOOK around you.  
If you were able to match all the numbers with the people in the cartoon above, then I am afraid one of us has failed.  Me as the cartoonist or you as a person?  
I'll leave that for you to judge...

When I drew the above cartoon I thought of each person with love. I did not have in my mind that anyone of them did/was anything. Just people.
Because, quite frankly - I have no f*cking clue who does what, and neither do you! 
Hello!? A murderer? If we knew what they looked like...
I'm pretty sure there would be fewer murderers!!! 

So please stop. 
Think - AM I Judging this person with out really understanding??
I AM  far from perfect... I tell this  ^ to my own mind all the time and I believe it is working.  I will not give up.
AT the end of the day I have to judge myself. 

You do not know what someone is dealing with by looking at them, think about it. 
Then again - with the expection of some seriously ill.   They look like they are dying. 
 So thank you GOD my son looks great! I want to shout it to the world! 
And you know why!  Plant and prayer;-) IMO.

On top of everything else do you think people who are sick, living with a serious condition, NEED you to say - "Well you don't look sick!?"       `WTF? 
YES there are fakers. They will be judged soon enough. We can't stop them or prevent them.  Then there are people like my son, who wishes every single day, more than anything they were not in the situtation that they are but they try to rise above it -every day! 
We have always told Storm you will grow up to be what ever you want! 
You have to believe! 

So... every time some thoughtless F%$!  says- "you dont' look sick" with a 'snarky smirk' on their face - I want to smack them.                    *Sigh*
I apologize.  Please forgive my momentary loss of control. 
I AM a MOTHER - I LOVE my SON. 
We know what he has lived with and continues to deal with daily. Be thankful you do not. You or your children.
 
WHO are you to make the ASSumtion my son is fine because 'he doesn't look sick'?
Or anyone for that matter? Have you walked in their shoes? Have you experienced what they experience? 
WHO are you to tell us, as a family what we can or can not use to heal his pain and make our all lives happier?  

WHO ARE YOU?!  

“You're going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their actions you should judge them by. It's actions, not words, that matter.” 
― Nicholas Sparks, The Rescue

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.” 
― Erma Bombeck        

I AGREE !
 xox Georgia 
☮☯☝✞☭☬☫☩☪☨☧☦☤  = ONE LOVE

The making of a mayor! We had to make something to put out this year to say there is NO Halloween!   I thought the mayor when he says "Jack!? No Halloween? I'm only an elected official! I can't do it on my own!"  Perfect! 
I drew a sketch on what I would like the prop to do and then My hubby works his magic. I really do get all the easy stuff - he does the body, figuring and mechanics if any.  Wood, foam a lathe, nails, glue and staples, paint, plaster and more paint and many hours of TLC and you have a Terrific Halloween Prop! It goes from the garage to the kitchen back to the garage too many times to count! Tequila has loved to watch me craft for years as you can see. ❤  She finds it relaxing to watch me because I believe she feels my peace. I am at peace when I create. 
Norm is already trying to figure out how to place him so no one steals him. We have decided he will sit just in front of the garage with some candy. He will come when it's over and then where will he go - I've already lost 2 rooms in my home to Halloween Props! Norm said - In the living room! ... I don't think so. ;-) 
The more I think about Halloween it really makes me sad. I am going to miss all the kids
"Hey Miss Peschel! I still have that fish you drew for me!" "What's new this year?"  "Will I be scared!!?" " Hey  remember me!? Last year I was batman!"   Hee hee hee.
Now with the all the terrible weather- it is really a good thing the display did not go up- it would have been hard on it - with no dry days in between- not to mention not so many trick or treaters! 
Oh well, somethings can't be helped.   Just imagine how amazing NEXT year will be! 
If you do venture out Have a Safe Halloween!   Here is a link to our Mayor - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rPH7AtNUvs&feature=youtu.be

To see more you can visit my Hubby's page! P.s The coffins are all sold out! http://www.normansworkshop.com/halloween.html

I was thinking today how much our lives have changed in the past few years. I would have to say we eat healthier, feel better generally - my mind especially. I really believe the media is responsible for the stoner thing - well them and stoners! LOL  The ones you see that show up at events stoned out of their mind walking around with a 10foot bong. (I'd much rather see a stoner walking around that a drunk.)  To each his own.  I can tell you that the more people I meet, the ones that are activists-  educated, compassionate - not all about posting "I'm so 'f*cking high" on their Fb page every 15 mins .. the other cannabis users and patients  - I find they eat healthier, they try to stay  positive and active and many - very impressively successful ;-))) . They generally seem to have a better outlook! Most of them meditate and all want a better world in general - open minds and hearts. Many not just cannabis activists but so much more - that I will save for another cartoon...  

I was asked recently do draw for The WorldWide Cannabis Tribe - of which I am proud to say I am a member!  I loved drawing this cartoon for several reasons. I had complete freedom. The owner asked that I do what ever I wanted with the paragraph he provided. 
The Hemp leaf turned into hemp twine keeping us all connected. Medically, recreationally for religious reasons - what ever the reason,  Cannabis is widely used all around the world and I agree- not until we all stand up and ask, express & in some cases even demand the right to use this healing herb. 
This toon is now on it's way to Scotland! My toons travel more than I do! LOL 
I am honored to say the least that this toon will be displayed in another part of the world. Planting the seed of Cannabis education all around the world! 
I feel blessed! 
Now back to plastering my honey's prop for the front lawn! Then perhaps I can sneak in a drawing today or two! 
xox ☮❤☯