Yesterday we celebrated ThanksGiving! 
Sitting here today I realize what a Thankful dinner it was, nothing fancy, Mom cooked a ham and scalloped potatoes! & made Storm venison stew! Mom kicked me out of the kitchen - "I don't like anyone around when I'm cooking!" - I get it! I don't like anyone around when I'm painting.  The occasional distraction is nice, but usually - No.  
As it happened we had an unexpected guest!
A friend of Storms who we all know - at first I was like- Do we have enough? lol Then I remembered my friend Roberts quote.. "more than a mouthful is more than enough to share."  something like that.. lol    So, we made a place at the table! 

​Here's the thing... his family just last week lost everything to a devastating fire in Keswick.
Tom is the owner of the original postcard with the dogs.. 'Grass a day' - It did not get lost in
the fire it was in his Barrie apt.  Holy cow.. I don't even know what to say, his family has already been through so much, anyhow- I'm thrilled we had an unexpected guest! We all were.  It made thanks Giving all the more thankful. 

I actually baked a carrot cake - stuffed with cream cheese! It was relaxing, fun & stress free.
Today I painted a little Give away for facebook, The image you see above. I will draw for the original tomorrow.
Why? because I'm thankful I get to paint!
I can mail it to someone to make them happy. 
I can share my gift.  Make a stranger smile.

Amen

Happy Thanks Giving Canada! 

Me & the Jays.. Blue Jays! I have a family, but I can never seem to get great photos of them.. so today I had the idea... Set up the camera- and go away. lol
I set up my iPad on the windowsill, made my coffee- and went to read my morning email! ;)
Coffee finished I went to check & the peanut bowl was empty!
​I must have got some on film!!?  Check this out:

I am beyond thrilled for my bluejays!  What a way to start this day..  Time to paint! 
I paint acrylics standing, sometimes I get so lost in painting I forget I'm standing.. I could be floating..- ideas come into my head without thinking about them, always good thoughts... some better than others.
Hard to believe they could get so good, so real sometimes..
no wonder I cant wait to paint. lol

Do what you LOVE and the rest will follow
​
Have Faith 
​<>< XOX

My big bluejay is ready to hang.. you can not see it but it is packed with words. symbols and more. Almost every branch has a word in it. Words for me to remember. Not a peanut but a cannabis nugget, it helps save lives. With the FULL, OPEN, wide beautiful blue sky- get ready to soar!  
​
Animal symbolism of determination, assertiveness, and intelligence is also a shared trait among those who claim the blue jay as their totem (and also common attributes with those having the vocations above listed). We see these characteristics in the blue jay because it is fiercely bold against its enemies. 
The jay is fearless when it comes to protecting its partner, young and territory. So too are those with this animal as their totem. They will defend their positions against adversaries who seem much more powerful than themselves - often with successful results.
Blue jay animal symbolism resonates truth, faithfulness, and solidarity because they are vigilant in their tasks. They also keep the same mate for life, which is symbolic of endurance, patience and loyalty. The jay is an excellent symbol for those wishing to honor their long-lasting bond between friends, family and lovers.
In the spiritual realm, the blue jay speaks of clarity and vision. In Native American symbolism (namely the Sioux Nation) the azure of the jay against the blue sky indicated a "double vision" or double clarity. This visual/spiritual "blue on blue" concept speaks of purity of the soul, truth of the heart, and clarity of thought. 
In dreams the blue jay animal symbolism also deals with clarity - but of higher thoughts, and taking action. When we dream of blue jays our deeper selves may be telling us that we are not being honest with ourselves about something, and it's time to "come clean" with our thoughts. Blue jay's in dreams are also symbolic of taking action in the direction of our highest truth. The jay asks for honesty, and forthrightness - any other action taken (such as deceptive or dishonest action) will mean double jeopardy for us in our waking hours.

These spiritual and dream impressions are especially poignant because the jay is an air animal totem. Creatures of the air naturally symbolize the realm of thought, higher ideals, spirituality and the attainment of higher truth.
The Sioux also observed the jay preferring fir and oak trees for their homes and nesting areas. These trees are symbolic of longevity, endurance and strength, and so share the same animal symbolism with the blue jay.
This is not to say the jay is persnickety. On the contrary, the blue jay animal symbolism includes aspects of opportunity and advantage because it will make its home anywhere. From supermarket awnings, to mailboxes, the blue jay is extremely resourceful and makes the best out of its environment. Those with the jay as their totem are likely to be the same way. Generally easy-going, jay people are able to make a turn situations around to their best advantage, and make awesome lemon aid out of the sourest of lemons.
Blue jay's are vastly curious, stopping to peck at any shiny thing that catches their eye (much like crows and magpies). Those who resonate with the blue jay will also find themselves equally curious. Indeed, blue jay people have are always dabbling in new directions, gathering new insight, and slaking their curiosities. These people tend to be a jack-of-all trades, knowing a little bit about seemingly everything. This makes them fantastic trouble-shooters and quite resourceful (not to mention fascinating party guests).
Article from:http://www.whats-your-sign.com/blue-jay-animal-symbolism.html

On a positive note.. after the foray yesterday and a trip to burger priest- Storm & I went to Currys art supplies- for more- CANVAS & PAINT.  I have resolved- for those not aware to focus on painting... I'm even considering a shack in the woods, surrounded by nature to do so!!!  It's time for me to seriously focus on what I love to do the most what brings me  peace...  nature & painting.  Simple.  When God blesses me with the opportunity to do so... I'll say:  Yes! Thank you & Let's Go!!

I hope you enjoy my bigbluejay! I know I do.
What is your favourite bird? look up it's meaning you might be surprised. ;)    
​
Have Faith
<>< xox

Yesterday  I was sitting outside getting some sun, I add nuts to the feeder then I sit out there and have my tea.. when I came back inside I saw a friend sitting on my kitchen table - a Bluejay! Of course it was frightened and it started towards my kitchen window - I reached out and grabbed it!  I' have 'Bird' to thank for my bird catching skills (hee hee hee _ I grin with pride)  I guess because I couldn't believe it myself & it just got calm.  Like I said I do this to bird all the time and at first he would shake.. until he knew I meant him no harm, now he likes it.. this Bluejay was so calm for one second started to panic.. then it looked at me, right in the face and calmed down, looking at me.. its beak was open and I wondered if it would bite so I gently rubbed it and it seemed to like this.. I rubbed its head feathers and it leaned in.. I could not stop smiling! I walked  up to my office to get my camera.. it just looked at me. 

I took some photos... I am so glad my hands were warm, I can tell you it's a strange sensation to have a bluejay claw around one of your finders. It was a powerful yet gentle grasp, big enough so my finger could have been the branch. Wow. 
As I spoke gently to it looked and blinked and did not try to escape once.
We walked out to the back deck, and opened my hands and it was gone, I can still see it leave my hands.. as though a perfect scene from a movie. 
Not long after I'm sure the same bluejay visited me at the deck feeder it sat there and just looked at me...  picked up 3 nuts before deciding and left. 

I have this big black canvas waiting... as I finish the 3 cats today I'll be thinking about my next bluejay painting. I want it to be allegorical, only I'll understand it's meaning, I started one of Scruffy in a boat earlier in the summer & decided to not continue. It was full of meaning, meaning that can stay in the past. 

After I research bluejays, symbolisms & facts I'll start to sketch. I'd be lying if I said my bluejay encounter didn't feel like a blessing. I'll admit holding it  -for one second -sorry, but I thought of John Jame Audubon who I found out watching a documentary- killed and used the dead birds to draw from, which made them so incredibly accurate.  
No.   I could never do it.  There is no need now, so many photos are available- I've taken 100's of bluejay photos! 

Letting it go, the dogs were in shock! I think, they thought I was faking it!?  I was so calm -the bluejay was so calm.. when it left my hands all their eyes (7 in total) including the cat- bulged!! It was comical- then they looked at me like WTF was that!?

Time to finish King of the Jungle & imagine good things - cause they make me smile! 
Have a great day & remember miracles happen ALL the time.  Big & small.  
Open your heart and watch what happens.

Have Faith
<><
xox