Thinking of Fungi...
Anxious for a Foray?
This is one of a series...  I call him 'Bryon.  
He is reading: The Human Mind.

Mushrooms are proving to be beneficial for health & the brain:
http://www.businessinsider.com/mental-physical-effects-of-magic-mushrooms/#they-can-also-make-you-hallucinate-2

Interested in a Print?  
Send me a message.  
Stay tooned for more FunGuy & Gals! 
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Have Faith
xox
<>< 

'I love you' in the sense I care for all humans.. but  I do love a few human in particular!
I plan on showing them with a tiny little valentine! hee hee
Just like I have shown all of you my love- by sharing here today!  
A FREE printable download!
Cut, Color & Convey your love!  Tell someone or leave it anonymously... let someone  anyone know they are loved or at the very least -  appreciated!

Simply, Print the cards.  *I HIGHLY reccomend gluing the sheet of paper onto a card stock or thin piece of cardboard- the type from a cereal box works best! Recycle! Glue, leave overnight to dry- then COLOR!  I love this part.  Cut down the middle and in-between each card, write a tiny note on the back and deliver!
Either by hand or mail if you glued it to a cardboard stock- no problems!
You see I made a sample below- mailing it out-- who will get it?
You never know - one who gets my heart beating faster, last time I checked Christopher Waltz was still married.  Brad is now single though BUT I am quite fond of this rockstar...   

While I ponder away...  You too, can now play!
Print and get creative * see my samples below!
Share a little Cannabis friendly valentine with your loved one(s).  
Make at least one person smile today .
Click on the image below to start your free download!  Have fun! 
Be one of the first to color and send me an image and I'll send you out a postcard!  
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Want to discover what went into making this? 
How to be a cartoonist?  Slide show:
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Back again!  hee hee  
I wonder if snails get high.

My little fox is having fun hanging out on my desk...
Todd sent me another photo he colored from jail. One of his last - he is counting down- under 100days left!  Might be under 75 now. I will start to think about his welcome home card!   I gave out postcards on IG yesterday...  today, I mail them off!  
​Out into the world, the furthest from this batch is going to Germany!

Time to paint - I couldn't wait today to start- with a card...  for a friend, of course.

By the Grace of God we'll all have a fantastic day!
<><
xox

The future belongs
to those who believe
​ in the beauty of their dreams.

- Eleanor Roosevelt -

By the Grace of God...  until tomorrow.
xox
<><

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Every day, all day.  
Painting brings me peace.
I made a painting for this tiny dome.. water color, it was fun and has inspired one for my desk, more detailed I think.. a little forest scene.  I'll show you when complete.
The only difficulty is cutting...   I'll figure something out ;)

What will you create today?

BTGG
<><
​xox

Mmmmmmmm Mmmmmmmmm Mushrooms!!
Last night was the fall mushroom dinner with my son @ Piatto Restaurant  and the meal was as usual - delectable!  From start to finish, every meal has mushrooms and each course better than the last! Also a nice detail with everyone having a 'big mushroom shaped potato' on their plate - I KNOW the amount of work this would have taken and it was a lovely, impressive touch.

We sat with some lovely people, very interesting (I feel like bugs bunny when I just said that) sharing adventures, travel stories and more- there was never a silent moment - unless we were all eating and even then - the conversations never stopped. From cat towers to waterfalls...  quite a few giggles were to be had. 

Ironically before arriving I asked Storm "do you mind if we sit alone tonight, I just want it to be about the meal- no idle chatter "  lol - so glad  when we arrived  we were immediately told 'where we were sitting - at the head table. hee hee - Storm looked at me -  we exchanged the here we go glance :) & had a  terrific evening as usual! I can't thank my son enough... he does not have to take me, it does me proud to attend this meal - to see my son 'the Foray Director' (hee hee) is respected & liked and everyone has a smile an something nice to say!   Not to mention his knowledge on mushrooms, he can hold a conversation with the best of them and does.  
The Mycological Society of Toronto is growing in leaps and bounds - I get it!!!
The Forays are FUN - the wide range of people is incredible, every profession and level of education all mingling - coming together by mycelium - Don't fool yourself if you think the mushrooms are not bringing all these people together.  Watch a documentary - here is a good one: World of Fungus   Have a watch.  You will learn something! The forays are also a way to LEARN which mushrooms are safe and which are NOT - *NEVER EAT A MUSHROOM YOU FIND IN THE WILD IF YOU DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS SAFE TO EAT.  People dies STILL all the time, recently a little boy in B.C. died from eating a "death cap" while on a foray with his parents - especially little ones! Teach THEM NOW, I've seen death caps all over this foray season.
Cannabis - O deaths.        Hmmmmmmmmmm... just sayin'.

One gentleman was sharing he is making a mini film with the song 'Oh' Canada' for our 150 this year!!  Canada will be 150 years young and there are many events planned this year
so  COME VISIT!: Canada is 150 years old!   I can't wait and will share when complete.  
Ending on a positive note - guess who was asked to draw a cartoon for the  MST newsletters?  I'm going to get right on that  & today I'm finishing my painting.               39

Have Faith
<><
​xox

          If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform
​                                           one million realities.

                                                - Maya Angelou -

The other day I was handed a bunch of BIG PUFFBALL mushrooms - edible -more important to me a 'drawable mushroom!  I joked and asked the finder if he was now  the Puff master or something - the second I thought "he is a PUFF DADDY " I started to laugh, finally able to paint it today, it's been a busy weekend - week.  

Today was a Foray! It was more fun than anticipated as usual.. what a work out, I am sore just sitting here, welcome to  Canada- it was brisk this morning! I had so many layers I must have been at least 10lbs heavier. It was really nice to see little ones there today!
Two  of them and one made me laugh, he chatted to Storm like I've never seen chatting! "Can puffballs grow in my throat?" we talked about him at dinner this evening, he is a handful for sure! lol  
I spoke with a woman briefly at the beginning that told me - she was looking for cartooning classes, as its what she is really interested in,  I have her contact and will send her and e mail as she was also speaking about Gouache painting.   The forays are a nice place to get out exercise, LEARN.  I was beat today and decided to sit it out on a log with Poppy in the sunshine after and missed the "identification" time. 
There I also met Karen,  a like minded woman- we had a great conversation.  I asked her if she knew the statistics on a subject we were discussing and she said "As a matter of fact I do!"  How cool was that- and she did! - the day was definitely, Indubitably, refreshing. Everyday, I meet new people and think...  we could be friends. 
I hope that never changes. 

The King of the Jungle is nowhere near complete, the amount of detail that goes into these paintings, although small is more than I put in most work.  Tomorrow, I'm starting a new canvas & sharing  the W.H.O.  cartooon- ...WHO has time to think, sleep, eat..   good.  
I'm actually going to work on another small bit of positive fun painting now, not too tired to sleep, listening at the moment to Santana,  makes me want to move.. the song "Smooth". & Black Magic woman..  Classic ;)  Time to medicate and meditate!     
Do what makes your heart beat faster & puts a smile on our face... 
of course I mean - Foraying! hee hee hee

Have faith!
<><
xox

There is nothing like walking through the woods with a basket and your dog running around your side...  It felt good, at one point like 'Dorothy & Toto' -all I needed was ruby mudboots and a straw man,  lol   I'm not sure 'my companions' appreciated the analogy, but again - it gave me a good giggle.   Life is too short not to giggle. I hope most realizing when I'm joking.   If not, ASK.  

I'm not joking when I say another good day was had on the Foray.  What a fantastic way to get out, meet new people, learn interesting facts and be in nature & although I did not find as much as the day before, the forrest seemed drier,less active, the samples smaller still at the end it was nice to see the table full with many different varieties. I will admit- a 'mushroomnoob' like myself is picking up a few things, just from listening and watching others ask questions. The lead speaker/identifier was Jan Thornhill who is also an illustrator and author of children's books, It amazes me how each instructor has their own "feel about them" and each one brings a new interest to the table. A few laughs as well.  There were several small dogs, they all behaved and Poppy never left my side, she was  the only one in a sweater, it was a cool morning.   

Storm several times told  me of noodles in the past.. turns out he's made friends and they have noodles. Home made goodness.  ;) I was invited to the noodle fest! It's like a mini tailgate party at a mushroom foray and I leaned a few things there as well - Mini Sweet potatoes are delicious! Moon cake has a 'salted egg' yolk in the centre and had you told me that first- I'm not sure I would have been as anxious to try- it was really interesting and I liked it!  Homemade rice balls  stuffed with bean paste -  I am bringing lemon loaf next time!

Storm found a little treasure of  Chanterelles!  He shared to thank our hosts for the gifts they shared with us.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanterelle   
We shall fry them up tomorrow.
I can really see why my son enjoys the Mycological society as much as he does, such a wide variety of people, all bringing talents to the table! If you are looking for a new hobby- it's a wonderful place to start, not to mention educational.

The exercise has this Dorothy and Toto medicating  x3, good stretching pain, use it or lose it... and in bed early. I get up early so I never feel too guilty about it.  I was up anxious to continue working on the piece I am,  painting the tiny details is one of my favourite parts.
A work of heart for sure!  

Ending on a good note.. there were many people there from the previous week that ate finds and returned to tell!

Have faith
xox <><
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We are family! I got all my sisters and me!!!   lol    Sing it! 
It's time for the Mushrooms! Today is another Foray day!  We will be leaving soon.
I am amazed at the variety of mushrooms found on the last foray  including a Blue mushroom,  it's a wonderful way to learn about nature as well as informative on mushrooms and how much they effect our environment.  I hope to find an edible one! 
This is a gouache painting.. the only thing I forgot was a bug or two. I can still add them.

Later today, I'm working on a new painting and thinking of a couple of cannabis related cartoons, here in Canada I think a 'calm'- regarding cannabis has fallen..  legalization in 2017 is on the way, still in the United states it's legal here and not there, I find it hard to believe how celebrated the plant is in some states- yet it others it's still backwards! A NewMexico state fair stopped a medical Cannabis provider from allowing a plant or even brochures at a fair!?  WTF. I don't get it. I remember years ago Treating Yourself was at the Women's Home show!  Marco Renda -made sure 'Treating Yourself' was everywhere - The Toronto Home show, garden shows and even tiny town Home shows.  At the Women's show- it was the only booth of its kind -  let it be everywhere, educate everyone. Familiarize people to the plant. PLANT. I truly believe at this point, anyone that prohibits such 'displays' is only contributing to abuse, addiction and even death of generations to come. 

I did read a response editorial written by Duke Rodriguez, CEO and President of Ultra Health which reminds me of struggles we are currently having with Health Canada and dispensaries.  'Dorothy' at the State fair:
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Dorothy, the three ­week old medical cannabis plant who was proudly on display at the New Mexico State Fair for a mere 6 hours, was the center of attention for many fairgoers yesterday. It was also surprisingly the center of attention for members of the Department of Health and state fair officials.
But, Dorothy was never intended to be a surprise. The entire time Dorothy was secured and under the supervision of the licensed producer. Law enforcement was cooperative and present throughout the display period.
The fact that the DOH is going out of its way to scrutinize Ultra Health’s activity at the New Mexico State Fair is both absurd and a waste of DOH resources. There are several other issues with the Medical Cannabis Program, including dispensaries operating illegally and without approval as well as delays on patient cards, that the DOH should be focusing on, rather than a medical cannabis plant with only trace amounts of THC that was approved by officials operating the fair.
Ultra Health applied for a booth at the fair on August 1, with our application explicitly stating we would be providing at least one medical cannabis plant for viewing and educational materials about the health benefits of cannabis. Ultra Health even provided a mockup of what the booth would look like, plants included.
After weeks of back and forth communication, the director of the Concessions Department notified Ultra Health of an opening on September 6, just two days before the fair was to open. The fair notified Ultra Health that the contract must be signed and the booth paid for by Wednesday, September 7 and its booth must be fully functional by the morning of September 8.
With less than 48 hours notice, Ultra Health complied with the state fair’s demands and respectfully followed through with the booth it had planned from the beginning.
Ultra Health should not be faulted for a poor handling that happened wholly on the fair’s end.
The New Mexico State Fair has beer gardens and an array of unhealthy, fried foods. Neither beer nor these varieties of food have any known health benefits, unlike cannabis, which is improving the qualify of life for more than 30,000 New Mexicans today and more than one million across the country.
To quote DEA Administrative Law Judge Francis Young, "​ In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. For example, eating 10 raw potatoes can result in a toxic response. By comparison, it is physically impossible to eat enough marijuana to induce death. Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within the supervised routine of medical care.”
The fact of the matter is that the world is changing. Just last month, Oregon featured an entire cannabis exhibit at their state fair, including a live plant competition and learning opportunities
for growers. In Washington D.C. cannabis plants have been put on display to the public. Isn’t it time New Mexico embraced a plant that it should truly be proud of? 



WE ARE FAMILY.. Please show your support whenever you see an injustice regarding the cannabis plant. The more it is seen, doodles, pictures, brochures - the more it will be recognized and decriminalized- at least in the minds of many - (I laugh typing that) the fact that we have to TRY to make a plant seem normal, natural - wow.  
Ultra Health, is on instagram, please show them some love.  www.instagram.com/ultra_health/   Strength in numbers, it does not matter if we are Canadian or American or  __________ (fill in the blank), we are all striving for the same thing.  Freedom to choose what we want to put in our own bodies. 
The healthier option  for me..  is Cannabis.
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Time to get ready for the foray!! yay!! 
Have a terrific day All!
We are family! ... I got all my sisters and me!

Have faith... in good things to come! I feel it!  I Am ready!
xox - for all who need a kiss and hug! This ones for you!
<><    ...what a man.