I thought today might be a good day to tell you about Walnut INK! This way you can scope out a walnut tree and try to make some of your own this fall! I heard about this when in Halliburton listening to the radio - I wished I could have went to the evening so I contacted the woman and she shared her walnut ink recipe with me 
! Below is the e mail she shared! Enjoy! 

WALNUT INK                                      Judith Jaimet Bainbridge
 
Walking in the Experimental Farm in the fall, I noticed lots of rotting walnuts on the ground, under, of course, a black walnut tree, and I decided to make my own walnut ink.
It is fabulous for painting and writing. 
The recipe I found on the net was surprisingly easy.
I filled a pot with all the bits, fruit and seeds, rotting or not.
It is best to use the fruit when it is starting to turn black.  
Then I covered them with water and got it boiling.
It simmered all day, making the house smell all earthy, like a hobbit hole.
They recommend doing it outside, but I didn’t mind the smell. 
I strained the mess through cheesecloth and got the liquid boiling again.
It was about 10 cups at this point.

The idea is to boil it down until you have an almost black ink.
It made finally about one cup. Pouring it into sterilized jars will keep it from getting mouldy. When you use it, if you pour a little into a small container to dip your pen into, the original amount will stay germ-free longer. I froze some to see if it will stay useable when it is thawed, but I lost the cubes in my move. Try it and let me know please. 

The result was a gorgeous, brown-black ink- a nicer colour than the synthetic kind- that flowed smoothly and made crisp hairlines. I loved it! BUT it FADES! 
In about six months in a window, it had lost most of its intensity and was very pale.
That was a year and a half ago and it hasn’t faded away completely.
The old manuscripts that we see of brown ink were initially almost black. I have since learned that a little vinegar and salt will make it lightfast. I have not tested that. 
The synthetic, dried ink you buy from *John Neal Bookseller, is made from all natural substances and starts with peat. It is lightfast. It keeps and carries well because it comes in dried crystal form and requires only the addition of distilled water to make it useable.
 *johnnealbooks.com                       jaimetbainbridge@yahyoo.com

***Judith is retired from doing heraldic art and calligraphy for the Governor General and the Federal Government. She now does sculpture and the book arts.  She live 6 months in Ottawa and 6 months in Minden where she teaches for the HSA or for Fay @ Visible Voices Open art Studio!  They call the gatherings ‘Creative Interludes’ - short bursts of playful creativity - rather than workshops.  I wish it was closer! I'd be there!!
Leaders share their skill and knowledge and  all learn from each other. A Creative Interlude suggests an informality, a relatively short time to explore, experiment and experience that is open to anyone interested. Sometimes they get people who don’t really consider themselves to be ‘creative’  but are intrigued…and they want to encourage that.  If people want ‘more’ then they organize that.  Check it out:

Facebook: Visible Voices Open Arts Studio
www.openartsstudio.ca

Judith has not retired from teaching- 'I love it'.  It shows! I am thankful she shared this recipe with me IF you do try it PLEASE let me know as well! 

Believe! 
xox <>< 
​GET creative today! 

Another Kitty has reached its destination!
This Kitty I kept a secret but it's a special number FUR a Puuuurfect person - I've admired for a while! I was thrilled she liked her Kitty(s) in the Grass,  reading her email made me smile.  I won't tell you who this owner is as she travels and It's more fun this way.  

A couple more kittys are in the mail and already on the way!
This Lion made me smile as I painted it, like how I feel when I think of the recipient.  ;) 
I might do another lions but no two kitties will ever be the same...

Would you be interested in Kitty in the Grass? Let me know 'why' in an e mail message.  
I'll see what I can do. 
​
By the way - if this person never took another photo of her Kitties - I'd be o.k. -  I know SHE plants the seed of cannabis education and then some and has long before I started drawing about it,  She has represented the plant proud in my opinion. ;)
​
Please never stop planting the seed of cannabis education, I read wonderful news one moment and terrible news the next,  over 'Plants'. 
Have a creative cannabis conversation.  <3 

Have Faith  (in yourself) 
xox
​<><    

I like to WARM up!
Stretch my body, water, coffee & some fruit or juiced stuff start my day for the brain then I'm in my office/studio and  before I start what I am already currently working on - I like to warm up my brain with my watercolor!  
I recently purchased some fine water color cards & envelopes to do just that.  
I love to create custom cards and better -  I love to give them away. 
Better then any bought card any day!
The perfect warm up before I start more serious painting business.
Up with the birds, I have a Dr.s Apointment in a couple of hours (me & Poppy)  and I heard this doctors Dachshund died recently  :(  he loved his little dog - that I know. 
The card a gift for him. Todays Job for making someone smile is done. 

Have Faith! 
<><
xox 

To learn about the eggs: http://www.welovedaruma.com/en/about_daruma.html   Easter and the symbolism of rebirth, spring, new growth, forgiveness & hope.
I feel stronger about this Easter and what it stands for than  I did only a year ago. 

I asked the guys if they wouldn't mind staying home this Easter even though we were invited to the 'family dinner - actually, I said I was staying home but they could go - lol -it did not go as planned... so, I painted  eggs to give to a very 'select few', purchased a new everyday tablecloth,  Norm  helped clean - we picked up some tulips and  Easter dinner  (cooked and catered by mom) was  terrific. Perfect. 

​It  was a peaceful day... leading up to a mini Spring break. 
I've decided to take some time to read and draw, think and draw... spend time with Jesus- as I become less religious.  This Rosary you see is my meditation.  
I sleep with it wrapped around my hand and wake up with it still there many mornings. 
Think what you want- I don't care, it brings me peace.  
It reminds me that miracles happen every second of every day, inspired by LOVE.
Time again to Go within, with Buddha and past time with Poppy as spring gets closer to becoming summer. 

I can't promise I will keep up the blog the next few weeks, I only have a short allowance for internet time, I can promise I will be keeping very creative!
I will post one  'image' a day if nothing else, but this won't include original art work- some of it is top secret at the moment,  a few gifts I don't want people to know about yet...  a couple pieces taking a while to complete and a NEW project -  I'm not at liberty to discuss - yet.  ;) The days are getting longer and I am getting busier!  Amen.
 
To learn about the eggs: http://www.welovedaruma.com/en/about_daruma.html 
I also made something neat-- going on my ETSY page soon... 
​
Do what you love & the rest will follow!
Believe
xox <>< 

​

Good Friday was not a holiday for Norm. 
We were hit with an ice storm, of course - now that the blooms were on the tree...  Late Thursday I heard a 'bang and then ice and thought it was the  iceplow truck and they had hit the sidewalk, the dogs barked,  Norm & Storm also heard it .. we thought nothing more.

Up at 6 the next morning, out the back window I could see how the ice had covered the backyard trees, the sun just rising - it was beautiful and I had to get a shot, I ran up to get my camera glanced out my  office window and "OHMY Go -NORM GET UP!!!"  He was still in bed, not for long.  
Norm said the reason our vehicles did not get damaged was a miracle and 'all the ice' - worked at a protector. Neither vehicle  even has a scratch, let alone a dent.

My heart and the tree are the ones broken.  Birds nest gone.
My view of leaves gone.
Norm says 'we can plant another',  that one took 23 years. 
No one to blame and only grateful,  the guys were worried about that tree, ever since we had to have one removed because of beetle damage.  
​Trees are down all over but the ground is grateful for the melting snow... back to it today, it was just too slippery yesterday.
Poppy & I get to stay warm and what else - paint Eggs!  Happy Easter Weekend.

Believe
xox
​<>< 

Mexican proverb. What a wonderful way to view life - much like Spring, impossible to keep from coming. I have been to Mexico a few times in my life and every time was a pleasure!
I don't know where I've been, that I haven't liked the people.
I had once a friend have her wallet taken in Mexico, our fault, tourists - drunk, giggling carrying her wallet openly - easy prey. Too easy targets & I get it.  It happens EVERYwhere.
 
Mexican people are beyond Lovely, caring and friendly like every 'race' we  usually only hear the negative in the media and don't often see the beautiful and celebrated. Now we can.
We are in control of what we chose to see. I enjoy the land, culture, FOOD and friends I have made over the internet, if my days of travel are not over - I'd love to visit Mexico again
 It's not just the people -it's the sunshine,  just the thought of the beaches has me sitting here longing for sand under my feet and I don't mean the kind Daisy dragged in . ;)

Imagine my dismay when researching for the past 'DT' (presidential 'hopeful') cartoon, to read some of the things he says about Mexicans.  Wow.  
Yes Don,  IF you become president... Build a wall!  lol    Do the Mexicans a favour.  
To think the average American might think this way is not reassuring luckily,  from the few I know I highly believe it to be possible. As the Dali Lama said 'It is your business'.

I would never vote for anyone that spoke so poorly of others, let alone an entire race.
I am sure Stephen H. said a lot we did not hear. Luckily.

This original has many layers, you can't see all the details in the scan. It is not the direction I thought I was going but it was certainly a lesson in watercolor all the same. I believe I'll re-draw this quote/proverb I think it is powerful and beautiful. 
​
Believe
xox  <><

F*cking Cowards.    opps sorry... 'One word' : COWARD.
This drawing on my desk before my son/sun was even up.
I read something was happening on isntagram and have watched the death tolls steadily climb all morning. COWARDS.
Storm reminds me 'These are people who have grown up seeing bombs drop their entire life and have seen family & friends killed countlessly. They are confused & have nothing to lose... raised to believe in a hateful, hurtful religion and education has been suppressed.' 
I love my son, still  he agrees 'cowards might be the right word'
Mentally ill, but not enough to know what they are doing.  COWARDS.
​I asked on FB here are some words people suggested:
​Lost, Vile, Evil, Cowards, Soulless, Devastation, Ungrateful, Homicide, Dedicated,  Brainwashed, Fooled, Deranged, Desperate, Islam, Mislead
& A  couple of more than two words (always happens):
"One Word : Coward = my definition : A lost soul that can't confront their own demons and instead go for false prophecy of something they can never obtain" 
 "A very desperate person who has absolutely nothing to lose, driven by vengeance, hate, ideology and/or religion, and most likely someone who seen their loved ones killed from war. If you lived in a war torn country (probably caused by the USA) then you would see how someone can be driven to that point"
^^^
To the last I say: BULLSHIT.
I watched a clip the other day where a  woman was commenting  'stop blaming the West, we have been  slaughtering each other for before the United States even existed.  She also comments on how bad treatment is  to have your hand cut off, stoned in the streets, don't get me started on how they treat women. Not sure if link will work but this is it:
https://www.facebook.com/KenWebsterJr/videos/1913266932232481/?pnref=story
Yes, no wonder they do not have any respect or value for human lives. To witness this 'as a common 'way to treat each other, can only cause people to grow up ANGRY.
I truly do feel sorry for them.  I have researched this topic for cartoons I draw- they do have it terrible - BUT look at the numbers- and do NOT blame a race, culture, religion, country for the acts of a FEW  NASTY COWARDS.
Sick Cowards who want to hurt innocent people. 

Another thing, I know thoughts of suicide... MILLIONS have committed and will still & think about suicide daily, YET NEVER do they think of harming others.
JUST like every person who owns a gun does not go on a shooting rampage.

They need to be 'GLORIFIED' as what they truly are.
COWARDS.   Not felt sorry for or as 'victims'.
Not what they 'think' they are - or what other 'like them' think they are - they are nothing more than Puppet Cowards.  They have no respect for anyone or anything on the planet.
That terrorist in Russia who cut off that babies head a couple of weeks ago -  I wish she committed suicide before she killed that poor baby.
She is nothing more than a SICK coward who is using life as an excuse for being miserable, who takes it out on poor innocent victims. Coward waited until the parents left. Coward. Coward walks down the street blaming others for her act of hatred.  

Educate others on what they are. 
Do not blame the masses for the occasional murdering madman/woman.
Forgive me for my judgement today. I AM ONLY HUMAN.
One that does not believe in slaughtering other humans... I am not one to pass judgement or try to understand why..  but boy oh boy it's hard to see/hear & ignore.

Please send some loving, healing prayers and good vibes to Brussels.

Believe
xox <><

Spring is here & the birds are chirping! The bluejays calling - eery morning around 8 for their peanuts. The grackles are there too, I'm trying to ignore them.  We hung 3 new bird houses yesterday and Norm suggest we put a sign 'for rent' on the front lawn. 
I have been blessed this past winter.. I had my own little bird and we have bonded, my bird 'Bird' & I. 
Bird is Bird, it the name that has stuck with all of us and the one 'Bird seems to respond to the best.  lol 
He is 'no cute little clown' that I thought he might - he is very opinionated, skillful in his flying  and quite the art critic! He sings like Elvis and serenades me all day and night long, as long as I draw.  It's taken some time and we have accomplished some training. 
When I'm in my office or painting room so is Bird. 
The door closed and his cage open he is encouraged to fly and exercise- a happy bird is a healthy bird.  What does Bird do? He flys around my head a couple of times and back into his cage! It must look like a warner brother cartoon, I've just had an anvil dropped on my head.  He has a little warning tweet he makes before he is going to fly - so I know. 
I will say the newest move on his part puts a smile on my face and my guys (Poppy - she is not so impressed. - she could care less about bird) he likes to fly over to my desk lamp and perch while I draw!  He looks down at what I'm doing as if to offer advice, every time he does it - it makes me smile without fail - my little feathered friend.
I made sure to hold him very gently and bring him over to the window a few times to let him know 'he couldn't fly through it', he seems to have 'gotten it and flys  back and forth.

It's very convenient and smart of bird and puts me at ease, when anyone but me comes in the room - he goes back into his cage and does not come out. 
His singing is  wonderful! He will sit and face me and do his little tweet - 'Look at me" 
Then he starts to sing and makes eye contact with me all the time.  Storm laughs as I say this outloud. He does.  It feels like Bird is little kids saying 'watch me! watch me! sometimes. Luckily it does not bother me.
I'm glad about our little addition to the family, his singing and sweetness have inspired me countless ways and everyone likes him.  
Please show our wild birds some love as they return this spring!  
Nesting material, food - until  it starts to appear on its own!
Bee's too - add a  saucer for water.

Today is the first day of Spring! The birds are singing and so am I! 
Time to get busy and get outside for some brisk fresh air and then paint.

Believe 
xox <><
​
Its also world happiness day, I feel happy. - as I type bird has just landed on my lamp! ;D
​Time to get outside and get the backyard ready for spring!

I'm struggling at the moment with a few things...  I do not want to have any more surgery and I don't want to have gamma radiation.  
I don't even want to think about it and it IS my body & life so - how will I live with what is happening is the question. 
​I've still not been given any definitive answers regarding what is causing this to happen, only suggestions on how to try to stop - once tried already and not successful and the other  has no guarantees either, possibly just more complications.

I am sharing in the hopes that anyone might have some information to offer- suggestions are welcome- unless your just going to TRY to SELL me something - don't bother.  Also it will help educate others  about Trigeminal neuralgia, semi facia spasms and compassion.  
The most difficult part for me often- besides the pain, never knowing when the attacks come and exhaustion- is others. People & their reaction to me.
& ME - me not caring what others think.
Me, remembering I am still very much me & more... I think I'm a new and Improved me :)
What does not kill us makes us stronger. Thor move over. lol 
Me trying to REMEMBER that  sometimes the people who are witnessing what I am dealing with, ONLY LOVE me, wish it was not happening and feel just as helpless as I do.
Me thinking friends will only see the twitch in me. 
Me.. :(   

Everything triggers it, movement and simply walking make it more active.  
When I sit and draw it calms a bit and I can forget  by being distracted  in paint. 
I have decided to draw only what I want.  
As you will see - and another reason I share- I can't quite keep up, its becoming more about quality than quantity for me with everything.  Even art -has become a new challenge (I am thankful and blessed to have!) but, this twitch can mess with me - as I paint details and suddenly my  brush hits the paper when I did not want it to.  I refuse to give in and let it consume- so I draw.  
If you don't have any advice to offer - I get that too... Please offer prayers and good vibes instead, that will be enough. 
* Note- I did not put on make-up - for who? I don't think I even brushed my hair. 
If you want 'pretty, faking all is o.k.' - go some please else.  This is my real life. 
It's not always pretty but it can be pretty terrific at times!

Child of God you were created to create!

The clip ends with my terrific bird "Bird" who makes me smile.. more on him tomorrow, 
 a new painting - Mexican proverb.
 Spring ! The first day of SPRING is Tomorrow!  
Oh my Gosh, what am I doing on here... time to toon! 

https://vimeo.com/159510266 < video of me

​Believe <>< xox