Lockdown begins for Ontario today. Boxing day- boxed in.
Playing with paint & pondering the end 2020 a year of death & isolation due to Covid -19.
for many... not me. 2020 was one of the best years of our lives & I acknowledge it - to thank God.. Forever grateful for Gods timing in particular.  Grateful- Full of lessons I did not plan on learning, some good & some bad, some involving humans, a GERM... ALL helpful for a brighter wiser 2021.     I  enter 2021 grateFULL by the grace of God  - I can breath & am feeling anything BUT boxed in - I broke the box & draw outside the lines - in the forest!

I like purple... did you know no flags have the colour purple.  
Do you know why?  I do NOW.. I go into 2021 all the wiser with a new appreciation for purple.   ​Check out After Skool: ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYB-pmNs4VQ
Time to smudge my house for the new year with some lovely Cedar & PAINT something  Illuminated.

Merry Christmas.

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Another lock down was to be announced - then we had a blackout - amen.
To think, I thought: 'Rogers was not a great internet provider..  I can asure you the problem up here is real (lol)  apprently it is being addressed on a huge scale.  We had no service for a couple of days.  It was nice for the break - just remindng me.. I need a break. 
I've spoke to a few feeling the same, frustration with 'some' on social media with covid enhancing emotions.. has me tempted to say something I might not say if I remembered  some are fearful. Some are also struggling with things - others are not, tensions are building, understandably. 

NOW is NOT the time to GET your ass in jail.  It's not good.
If you FEEL like you are in prison during this 'lockdown' -  I have learned all outside visits have been cut off,  NOT being permitted even 1 hour of fresh air for weeks/months - (a human right), not getting the service they need, the food they are use to - lots of stuff and n0 control = aniexiety is ^.    not getting the safety  re cleaning, supplies, masks- like the rest of the population  & they certinally can not keep up with sickness in there.   It is very stressful in jail right now  (including staff)...  I guess, all those in there - needed the extra lesson?
The more I understand, the less I judge.
Keep calm, wash you hands.  Have Faith.  

I made myself a Jesus Positive message paitning! lol  
It turned out great! It made me giggle a few times.
& I store the extra messages in the back of this wooden canvas with a strip of paper glued into place. Easy  Peasy!  I glued a magnet on the back of the wooden canvas, and used one on the front to hold the cards.  The magnet I used was recycled,  I forget from what - but it is strong.  One of the strongest smallest magnets I recycled was from a front closing bra!  
Hee hee  Bra? What's that?  I've not bound my boobs once since moving here. Yay.

Then, I painted two tiny reindeer (two sides - one deer) that is the only Christmas Decor.
Good.  Bah Humbug. I embrace my inner GRINCH.  IF it means it will END  'THIS'.. what ever this IS - I don't even know... I know a break would be a good rest for the brain & soul.
Tomorrow, will be my last post for a few.

Recently, I re-read Brave New World, anyone ready for a cup of Soma?  I was reminded about a movie I watched over 10 years ago -  I googled, I'd forgotten that it was to represent the future - 2022. I watched Soylent Green 10 years ago, I am sure I shrugged it off easier than today.  It's got me wondering about all these Science 'Fictions'.  
Don't shoot the messenger, ' I did not create this film forcast but I do have a message:
​                                         Start planning your Garden. NOW
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Be it a balcony or backyard- it's your duty - just like in war time plan to plant a Victory Garden to help feed yourself & family & friends and others who are or will be struggling. 
Soylent Green is a movie once seen, you cannot unsee.. so perhaps pass.  Pass but don't be in denial, plan your garden & learn how to jar your goods.  Food shortage is a reality for too many and is growing due to the pandemic - it's complicated but understandable once you educate yourself on why, many reasons from actual lockdown to  not producing fast enough, pandemic purchasing and price increases, not being able to source ingredients as easily - it's what some might refer to as a  'Cluster Fuck'.  The awesomeness of the internet - NOW - you can learn so much from these humans who have already started the mindest a few years and teach others how to prepare.    

Do I think we'll be dining on Soylent Green anytime soon, 2022 - no.  Will food shortages happen & prices skyrocket - YES. Planning where to put the garden, no grass - all built up boxes for easy access, fenced in from critters - I don't need grass - nor do the dogs we have a forest to discover.  It's also fun to plan a garden in December.

Tonight is the Christmas Star! I'm excited to see it & paint something special for Christmas.
Today - finishing my 'Home Boy message centre painting'  (hee hee)  some positive loving affirmation going into 2021. Did you know some Canadians spell 'centre' and not center... We do.  Stay Healthy.
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It's been a cold week with fluries and lots of sunshine, I love sunshine on snow - snow is so many shades of grey and blue with shadows dancing down the driveway & glistening on the trees - WOW! How can you not love snow? But feeling cold - I choose to warm up my little wood pecker.  It was a day in silence & thought.

I have a few ideas of new paintigns as well as a portrait I'm planning.  
Mailing anything anywhere, right now.. I'll wait till the Christmas stuff is over & send out pkgs in mid January.  Norm said the post offices are long lines and it's not fair to him, nor do I want him getting sick for he sake of a gift for someone, letters are no issue but art is bigger & bulkier.  I guess this is how we have to think right now.

I look forward to all the ways people are going to continue to change in 2021 & become more creative in our communications & deliberations.

I'm struggling more than usual - go figure.  Pandemic, mostly.    
Worried about others.. some days 'others' is the planet, when I'm reading about long term effects of this pandemic, especially when it comes to food security... it is concerning.
 My brain is screaming type = Fucking Terrible!! NOT "concerning"     because.. it is.

I'm going to  focus on all  good things as 2020 ends... woodpeckers are good things.  :)
My bump on my head forced me to stop & think...  I need to do that more - not bump - slow down.  Stop & ask God - then wait for a response - is more like it.
 2021   I am going to social isolate by choice & learn to paint outdoors (it's NOT as easy as you might think)  that's my only goal and I have the teacher already in mind - God (& Harvey) - lol   Harvey is an artist (very close) who inspires as he paints outdoors!  His art inspires - you should see his studio!!   I treated myself to a traveling art easel & box
& I have the perfect spot on the property I am anxious to paint!  I'l make my trail this spring and the dogs & I will go have out little painting sessions in the woods... just the thought has me feeing better. 
 
Soon starting a social media fast and painting feast.  
Time to take the skills UP a knotch & the Covid news down to a silence.

Georgia... on my mind.

I have this monkey that holds two tall candles but he wasn't getting much use looking tired -he needed a makeover...  I bet a few of us could use a make-over these days.

I don't use this type of tall  tapered candle, I only use 'tea lights' because they are safest, imo &  I've even had one of those damage a table when some melted wax leaked out and almost started a fire.  One huge 'Halloween Party' one of the candles on the mantle caught  the spiderweb display on fire just as we all walked in the house, whew!  (thank you Lord!) 
I tell you this because:

        ONE of the number one ways fires start is from CHRISTMAS TREES.
        Please be careful - it's a year when we have more on our minds.

I unscrewed the candle parts (happy they removed -saved in case I want to change him back)  and cleaned and then painted my monkey.. thats all he needed and it was really a no brainer- I just coloured what was there. Now he's looking fresh & festive! Then I died a small wooden canvas - perfect size to make a little tray!  Drilled two holes( Norm did),  painted it black and presto- I have a new cell phone holder, that makes me smile, easy to access!  I wrapped my cable around his arm - always ready to charge... then I turned my phone OFF.    I am turning my phone off,  more & more.

There's a big dog running loose & it's -16,  I hope someone gets him, it's pretty cold. A tiny woodpecker on wood - it turned out so pretty,  it's easy to be thankful sitting at my desk, looking at God's Canvas  with bluejays & wood peckers & chickadees  entertaining me.. begging to be painted! 

REuse. Re purpose New life in and old object.. PAINT & love & patience.
Georgia