The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
                                                                       ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Ouch.
To toon or not to toon, that was the question - or rather how to toon so that the reader does not take offence. LOL  I don't think you can not take offence.  & why not make the reader take offence? 
His/her feelings will hurt a lot less than the animals this cartoon represents. 
Too many animals, does this cartoon represent. 
Yes, I have seen the youtube clip, with he animal being skinned alive for it's fur. 
Which one? Sadly, there are several ;(  
I do not understand it at all. 
It is beyond humane treatment of animals, even for humans.

I do not agree with spraying on someones fur coat/Canada Goose jacket.  I do agree on promoting education and awareness (obviously) and frankly, there is no 'nice' way to do it.
Animals born, raised only for fur are treated like senseless, heartless, thoughtless creatures - which WE KNOW they are NOT.  In most cases, a life of hell on earth from start to finish. 

We don't NEED FUR anymore, we have not needed fur for decades- so this is not about what we need. 
It is about what we do not need.  More Suffering in the world.
Does it matter if it is a human or an animal?  There is no need to cause anything pain for 
pure pleasure and that is all FURs are at this point.  To skin animals alive for their fur is cruel.  I have been educated. I will NEVER buy a fur. 

If you do not believe me you can google to see this for yourself,  it is not fiction. 
I recommend you do not. I wish I never had - but I did and now I KNOW Better. 

At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.
                                           ~ Aristotle

Have Faith
<>< 
xox

How do I feel?  Simply put...   F*ck it.
This toon started with a pallet, that seems to happen often lately. 
Not yet complete the pallet, it made me want to get a little more detailed.  
I made myself paint yesterday, I was feeling incredibly 'angry' again. Still  ;(
With every tragedy in life we learn so much - not all of it good. WE are meant to learn - hopefully share and help educate others.     Another day.

I looked out at all the dandelions Norm asked me to remove and thought -  'Please.. I have drawing to do.'   The problem with the dandelions is Norms. Not mine. 
I see them as beautiful yellow buds that turn into wishes! LOL 
Fuck it.  
The entire time I painted the pallet & then this toon I was thinking about judging people, of course how we judge them on how they speak - me with swearing - as hard as I try - it escapes and I remind myself,  they are at times 'just words'.  It becomes a problem when I make it one, or others quickly  think they know a lot about me from a few words they hear.  I know people who swear when  in the privacy of their own homes - like troopers, yet are able to contain themselves in public- well good for them. 
What you see is what you get with me.  Want to judge me for swearing - o.k. ,
it is your problem not mine. I'm not a bad person because I swear.

Even simpler,  be completely honest  with yourself here.. 
Last night I took Poppy for a stroll, past many homes. 
The majority are well kept, beautifully well maintained lawns and landscaping. Right now - everything is starting to come up and blooms appear!  Every now and then  in the middle of these 'immaculate looking' homes is one where the dandelions are a foot tall, the yard not swept and the grass not cut.  
I have in the past thought to myself, when strolling by such a yard... "Lazy". 
Have you? 

WHO am I to judge a person by the dandelions in the yard- a crappy one.
Who knows why  they are a foot tall? 
Perhaps the husband passed away recently and  the yard is NOT a priority ;( 
Perhaps the family is struggling making ends meet and they are not thinking how to keep the grass neat but how not to lose their home.
Perhaps they just don't care.
Perhaps they see Dandelions as flowers and not weeds- as others have named them.

If I walk by your home and think you are lazy because you don't cut your dandelions
I AM the one with the problem. 

I have in the past thought to myself, when strolling by such a yard - "Lazy". 
I did not last night...  I thought they looked beautiful & admired the home owners for not caring about the dandelions - are there not more important things to care about?

So Fuck it. 
Do something more important... talk to a stranger - ask them to help you pull dandelions! LOL

Enjoy the day...     
Have Faith  XOX  <>< 

The sun is in and out & the wind makes it feel a bit cool.. frankly, I'm fine inside. 
I received a bag of hand me downs - but not just hand me downs... 'SNUGGLE me down' monkey P.J.'s and a new DVD.  Today, I also received a DVD that Jim had bought me. Instantly my eyes watered.  
Only Jim.

Jim remembered when he was out and about, one of my all time favourite movies - and inspired me to be a cartoonist was/is The Incredible Mr. Limpet.   He had picked me up a copy, my cousin sent it with a note. 
I wish, I wish .. I wish I was a fish.. then the song .. be careful what you wish for...
I realized May will soon be over and it's been but a blur - literally. 
It worse, for others I know.  All I can do is continue to show my love. 
Drawing.
I am wrestling with many emotions, - when I remember to stop wrestling and be quiet and ask for help - I get it. It's the remembering and asking that is the hard part most days.
The tears will come and go and I have no control. None. I was standing in the garden and they started to flow- not sobbing in anyway - just tears- escaping... I hope with each one a little pain escapes with them. I pray that for my cousin and her kids.

Crying is good. I can tell you - I realize after a few really good cry - I really feel significantly better. Like a huge physical release & even my head feels better, lighter. So, let it flow.  
I certainly am not ashamed of tears that just appear. 

So,  as it was meant to be  for me today - thinking about Jim.  I miss him.
We all miss him.                                       
Now, I've decided - Monkey P.J.s - and BBQ,  a bit of drawing and thanking God I had the pleasure of Jim in our lives.  

Really - I'm sure i've blogged about it before  it is a great movie - especially for little ones-- let the imagination run wild!  Drawing and creating Being the little Beings they should be! 
I'm not big on television now - I was reminded why today,  there is nothing like the Incredible Mr. Limpet on it.

Jim loved the movie 'The Incredibles '  - lol - We watched it last week and I  know why - It's Jim!! Even the little car.  lol. Of course 'googling' for the Incredible Mr Limpet - I am reminded of Jim as 'The Incredibles' appear first. 

Hey you! I was thinking of you! 
I can see the smile on his face when he hands it to me.
I smile. 
<><

Have faith
xox < for Jim. 

I am struggling, big time.
One moment I'm fine ( when painting or absorbed in a book *If I can), the next I'm bursting into tears.  
I'm quiet because I am so angry. 
I am so drained. I miss Jim. 
I'm worried about Elly. 
You have no idea until you are in someone shoes.

Give thanks.
I am thankful for the distraction of roses and others.
I do not want to speak when my heart fells such hatred.
I hate Golf.

Prayers are always appreciated.
<><

Yesterday I received a letter from Todd. Instantly I had a sinking feeling..   for several reasons.  I had not wrote in a bit & last time I did, I was a mess and he was my distraction.
I realize now it was for a reason as usual.  I did apologize, Kerry since spoke with Todd and explained and Todd does indeed understand.

His letter was to 'cheer me up', last he had  heard my cousin had been in a serious accident and he told me about his own brother who had been in a terrible accident and had also been in a coma for a while and he wanted me not to worry. That is Todd. 
If you have been following the blog Todd is my American friend I met a few EXPO's back ;) 
(I wish I had been better at tagging my blogs) We met at my booth, something he had said, he challenged me on something and that was it.  From there we became friends.  E mail, and then in person a couple of times. I was fortunate enough to meet them for diner with Storm, the entire family.

Since, I've seen a family torn apart.  Over plants. 
Plants Todd had purchased Tax stamps for.
I have a couple of them - souvenirs.  So when  the SWAT team broke into his home, held a gun to his daughters head... I truly believed, someone had made a serious mistake and it was not Todd.  Todd's youngest daughter became ill and cancer was discovered,  it was so quick - she had already had surgery, treatment and is on her way to feeling better, the stress now with her dad in jail, I bet has more than just me worried.  Sierra - well she is on her own path right now, I hope later she has no regrets.  Don't we all.  
Kerry - Todd's wife - well she is tiny and mighty.  LOL She will be o.k. &  getting Todds 'behind in line' as soon as he is FREE.
WHY is he in JAIL!?
Tell me what part of this toon is not true? I'm just being blunt.
I'm bored of the rock stars/famous that brag about cannabis and I get upset when they joke about being 'medicinal' - to be BLUNT. Well, when I took it personally.. which I no longer do. lol.  You soon learn not to.  Everyone else is bored too.

Dr.Gupta- all over the USA now you read about it - what we have been saying for years -  why do you think parents & patients are fighting so hard? Demanding. 
WE SEE HOW IT WORKS!! WE SEE IT SAVES our childrens lives & importantly it has prevented other poisons going into the bodies of our kids.  Amen.
Don't believe me? WATCH it for yourself- Google Dr.Gupta Weeds Doc. or even easier... click on the link.  You will learn something I guarantee.  It's an on going battle, one, I am personally exhausted from fighting. Until I got Todds letter.  

Originally the cartoon said - thousands 'get it' in the mail, I thought to myself  'ha,  the 'legal ones'.  You can believe the number is in the 100s of thousands and growing by the minute. 
SO WHY is Todd in Jail - I did not even have room on the cartoon about the growing business I'm reading about - one after the other from soft drinks to the newest  'vapour bar/clubs' opening up - legally...  so WHY  is Todd in jail? 
This is NOT just a USA thing - It is an US thing. 
Todd carried a plant  across a couple  of states to bring attention. What have you done?

Now he is in jail, sick, tired and bummed or I think the American way is 'Blue' to put it mildly.  WHY? For paying taxes on plants? 
The government knew exactly what he was growing and for how long.
Why is Todd in Jail.

Someone has to make money somehow $$$$$$$.

Todd is in jail over a plant. He is a good guy, no saint but not a sinner by far.  He is a good dad and loved husband  that should be at home with his family, growing Lillies. Not sitting in a cell, getting sick because he has never gone this long without working!  Not writing me letters to cheer me up ;(.  I love him.  He knows it. The family knows it.  Just hearing it had me crying - I could not believe he would go to jail. I believe there is good in everything. 
He went to jail as the rest of America starts to embrace the plant. 
 
Right now - I'm caught with that, as a few around me struggle with the loss of dads. 
A dad in jail.. still better than a dad in the grave.  

Please support Todd. A card! A hello note! A post card! 
If you don't know what to say 
Write: 
Hi Todd! 
Support from (put where you live)  
and your name. 
That simple! 

I hope he gets a lot of mail from all over! 
He is such a good person - I bet he will be out sooner  - for good behaviour!
I wrote today and will again in a couple more. I'm sending a copy of the cartoon. 
I hope he gets it I don't see why not. 
Even prison guards know its  all about the $$$,  I hope they relax at the end of a day with cannabis rather than alcohol, it is a stressful job they have.

Here is the address:
Todd Stimson#0391125
F.M.C.U. 3720
5150 Western Ave
Morganton, NC 2865
USA

You can also support him on Facebook:
Todd Stimson  or click on the link below.

I don't know why.

Have Faith 
xox <>< 

Last night Storm treated us to a  amazing mushroom meal! He reserved online a few weeks ago and it was a good thing he did! It was a full house!  The Mycological  Society had its first Spring Meal' and what a feast it was! 
Storm and I became members earlier this year and it has been  an adventure every time, this would be the first 'social event' to sample some of the most interesting specimens on our plates.  We arrived early and  has some wine, it was the first time in days we have actually just sat and relaxed and were celebrating...  life. 
From start to finish every course was  delicious, each with a different mushroom. Add a table full (a room full) of wonderful people, all there with a passion for the same thing and the entire evening was a hit!  
We will  return to the restaurant in a heart beat! 

The next thing I know, I've an artist beside me - who also knows about Musky fishing! LOL Could we have had a better seating partner!?  It turns out Storm knows her brother - it is such a small world.  The couple across from me, retired and loving every second as she paints & he hunts for mushrooms! You would not believe some of the paintings! Cows, chickens and more. lol. The evening was perfect.  I am looking forward to the next meeting! I AM looking forward to the next meal! LOL - Storm said- It's his treat!  I love my son.

I was at a restaurant with my 22year old son - his treat for mothers day. 
How could it be anything else but perfect?  

Have Faith 
xox 
<><

Today is 'my' Mothers Day.  We are just back from a lovely breakfast, my nails  no longer look like I have been rotto-tilling our garden withy hands. lol   in preparation for tonights Mushroom Meal! Storm booked our meal a couple of weeks back - every course is  mushroom related! I can't wait! 

The photos below were taken last week when we were in the city, I asked Storm to go for a walk with me at 6 as I could not longer sleep and did not want to wake anyone at my aunts, he did!  What an adventure -  I found this 'MINT' white wicker chair in someones trash - MINT. I asked him to go get his truck so I could bring it home and he did.  ;) Not my normal routine, no - lol- but how could I resist!?  The chair now will get a beautiful, special, colourful paint job... poppies and butterflies I'm thinking. 

Art in the Garden was also on the weekend and I'd like to thank friends and neighbours that visited.  Over breakfast this morning I became emotional discussing with Storm those that showed, how I have some really AMAZING friends. I won't lie, Saturday morning started in tears - tired, overwhelmed thinking of other things & people... I did not quite think I was up for the task. Leave it to Cathy to be here at 9:05 to  get me aligned with a morning hug and a 'YOU can do it!'  pep talk.     

We met new neighbours, welcomed  friends and had a wonderful weekend,  chatting, lunch, art, kids, dogs.  HOT weather had Scruffy  & her boat in the pool and little ones thought this was very cool!  - Daisy TOOK full advantage! She seemed to know who was going to throw the ball and who would not.  All weekend, not a drop of rain until it was packed up, put away and then it poured!  Perfect timing.   
Thanks to my friends, especially: Ellen , Linda and Lawrence - They honey man! 
Who contributed time, talent and more to the weekend!  
NORM  & Storm  - once again - without them I would NOT have been able to 'pull it' off. 

Now it is time for quiet. 
Time to just BE.
Time to draw.

Tonight is our mothers day meal... I can't wait. 
I love my son and thank God for him.  
Being a mom has been the best experience in my life.

HVE FAITH 
XOX   <><  

Today we are off to the city for a 'viewing'.  
The first day of Jim's funeral, ending on Thursday with the mass.  A week today Jim died.  
The week a blur, literally - of tears.

I have been cursing and thankful for the upcoming art show that was planned months ago. 
I feel almost disrespectful even advertising for it.    If I did not have others involved who have advertised as well and have friends coming.. I would have cancelled.  

My cousin Elly told me 'Jim would want you to.. '    LOL - Jim was always telling me to make money from what I do - 'instead of giving it away'.  Really, he was also our 'accountant' of sorts.   Only the week before his death did we have this very conversation.   It's only $.  No amount of money can help  heal my cousin heart right now, or that of their children  & many more who loved Jim. 

His heart helped someone. 

Painting my cutout - I thought of Jim and a halloween cutout I had done..  cleaning out by the pool - I thought of Jim, up at the BBQ - you think of JIM! If he was at your house .. chances are he took over the BBQ. Cleaning my house, photos on my walls & in my computer - I burst into tears.

It's still hard to believe but here is nothing like a coffin to being that reality home.
I hope to be strong - I'm at the point where I think - I can't possibly cry anymore, if I do... 
oh well. I don't care what anyone thinks about anything.    
Jim wouldn't and he would tell me not too either.
I only care about Elly and her family right now.

There they are, the tears..   so much for thinking they are gone. 

Upset that I won't be able to advertise for the show, like I was planning on  days before - I told Norm - "I don't have time nor do I care to run around putting signs up!!!" 
He said "George.. Don't worry about it! "   
He called me... I looked out the window...

He does make me smile.

Have faith
xox <><