There is much snow on the ground..  this is how I keep warm sitting at my desk looking out the window imagining bears...  I listened to a CBC Ideas podcast on a book called 'BEAR', By a woman , Canadian & takes place in Ontario, I am yet to find another woman/friend who has read it... interesting for such controversy as being 'risky'.   I ordered it from Masters Bookstore in Haliburton,  Kathy knew which book I was refering to, I should have asked her if she read it, tee hee - this amuses me- such a sweet lovely little lady.

I'm pleased the USA transfer of President' wen't peacefully, I hope.  

This vaccine business is confusing and not at all re-assuring.  Key word, business.
I'm grateful to all who work for all who don't, can't.  All.  Thank you. God Bless.
For all who work at/in hospitals.. and struggle & then must watch others go around  maskless, thank you.  

Today, I will try to paint something to cheer others up.

With THC & TLC,  Georgia

Today up at 4:44  ready to lite the fire, read & await this beautiful day.  Look out the window &  witness the winter wonderland we live in.  My warm up painting, an imagined Jesus, pondering the pandemic current milestone.
2,000,000.   2 Million dead in a year and the way the numbers are rising, it will only take another 3 months to reach another million milestone.  No, I'm not being a pessimist - I read.
Canada is not nearly over the HUMP or curve or what ever you choose to call it yet..   Maybe March.
Vaccine confusion - will we now get 1/2…?   Will 1/2 be good enough?   Will it work with the new strains? Will we have to take a vaccine every year from now on?  What will the side effects be?
The answers seem to be something like this: 
Perhaps, maybe,  we don't l know, there are no guarantees, some it won’t help.
God Bless you.

Hmmmmmm…  much to consider as I paint a bear in the woods.   

My newest Oar a Haliburton Fish caught in a local lake -there was a mix up because i forgot the print out & deleted the email - I thought it was a pike,  clearly I do not know my fish...  learning with each I paint.  I'm getting better at fish - I think.
This fish - was different with it's white dots- the background should not take attention away from his beauty, I thought.
This fish is  a 'Haliburton Gold Lake Trout, only caught here.  I'm not sure exactly where that "here" is,  so you'll have to figure that out if you hope to catch one.

It's off to the paddle Shop in Haliburton! 
It was very nice of the shop to provide paddles (& sanded them) for an affordable price - it's a creative painting surface &  delightful to design! AS soon as the pandemic is over - the Haliburton Forest paddle shop is on my to do list!   Follow them on instagram, I had no idea how much work goes into creating a paddle...  as well as the different style paddles with burned, stamped & painted enhancements.  

When the pandemic is over...
What will it take - IF they tell us to stay home to get it under control- "IT'S THE LAW" - stay the fuck home.  I don't get it .. whats the cost of covid?  A trip to the store for a bottle of booze & bag of chips?  A short visit with friends?  Running out for your Bingo sheets?  Essential services 'Extremely IMPORTANT'.  
According to the newest model of covid expected illness & death - vaccines won't help much at this rate.

Stay home.  Stay healthy. 

       I have some canvas- sketched on or painted that I use when I just want to 'experiment'..
this canvas was one, first it was ALL sun & sky... the I added the snow & trees, something was STILL missing. lol   Arrow.   This is what I see - as Arrow sits on the deck and watches... everything.

After my last blog Norm went out to get grocories & got stuck on the road just off the driveway, due to poor plowing build up, no biggy.. he's no stranger to shoveling snow & knows how to drive in Canadian Winters  BUT the neighbour drove by as Norm was digging out & actually stopped  JUST to be sarcastic and then continued on 'without helping Norm.  Wow.  I was grateful - I needed that reminder!  The reminder that 'IF' Norm was to see anyone stuck on this road he would be one out there with his shovel - anyone who knows Norm - or me, knows this to be true.  ​I was also reminded of the few time others have helped,  like the kid that moved a log off my driveway that sat there for days, the neighbour clearly saw that too.  

I am learning much from my neighbours, during a deadly pandemic and we are reminded to  be kind,  be there for  each other  'for our neighbours'.  God knows...  God sees.
I thanked Norm..  yes, I guess it is the pandemic causing us to be more stressed & grumpy than usual  & we are concerned about Storm, of course.  The USA and thoughts of civil war.. Doug Ford- tells us "it's really scary but lets wait a few days more" - then - yes this is how it is but let's wait a few more days... is it or isn't it Doug?    
Holy talk about mixed messages.  There is much to ponder during the pandemic- good thing we are locked down & have much time to sort stuff out.

About Masks, Rick Warren nail it for me:
“Some churches are willing to gamble the health of their people. I’m not,”  Warren said, adding, “I don’t want to be a superspreader. I’m not doing this out of fear; I’m doing this out of love. You wear a mask for love [of] your neighbors, yourself.”
​
Vaccines.. frig- some are really worried and believe they will be safe when they get the vaccine & they MUST go to work...  give it to them first,  do what ever it takes to ease peoples stress.  I think ALL hospital staff, Dr.s then teachers & kids should be vaccinated first - if it will help slow the spread of so many dead. IF they choose.
 Give it to who actually does want it! Yes, there is much to be reminded of these days, above all else I am reminded of who   God expects me to be.

Thank you neighbour for reminding me:  Norm is the bigger man! 
Norm would have dug our neighbour out in a heart beat,  I was grateful & cut Norm some slack, he also likes doing the dishes, looks after all the animals , chopping trees and cutting out my stuff in between, building a shop,  baking fresh bagels, gets all out groceries and stuff & everything else..   ​I am thankful for him.  
I know still - if anyone  gets stuck,  still...  he will be there - shovel in hand.

Amen.

I’m resetting! Detoxing too.
Time to reset, less time on the phone,  I’ll check it when messages arrive only - other than that it’s  on a side table where I can’t see - or focus on it. 
I’ve only got a bit of bud & am NOT replenishing it -right away.. if I have it  - I’ll smoke it- so Time to cleanse my body & mind from all for a few weeks at least.  No mushroom medicine - this is o.k. too - as I don't  seem to 'CRAVE it',   it’s more of a thoughtful process & I’m good for a bit. Yes, I have discovered the best possible thing for my mental health - creating.  Painting.  

Creating- it’s the only time to  become absorbed in what I am doing and feel free! 
Free from all the stress of today and tomorrow.. concerned with covid bullshit mostly, has drained me & enhanced' - escalated my twitch, which is at an all time active high (not fun).  I understand I have very little control over it' - and others.  Here I’m content- thriving in solitude - happy even, yes, I prefer it.   Norm not so much,  he’s feeling frustrated because he can’t go out and mingle’… this is causing problems and frustration,  it also has me wondering  if Norm will ever be content here, there, anywhere..  
& I don’t care.

I thought I made it clear before 'we' moved here, there would be changes… or don’t join me.  I guess I didn’t make it clear enough,  one year didn’t do it.  That or he just lied to me & himself.    I don’t think it’s covid he has been miserable,  long before covid.
I don't care,  when I log off '  I will focus on art, music, dogs & God.  
Make yourself happy.. life goes too quick - even in lockdown.  
I am content, blessed even  - in Gods grace. 
Learning  daily how to keep myself happy & loved - remaining in God company… 
no one else is needed.

Anxious to see FUNGI peeking through the snow - I painted some.
Created to create- I have a gift - to create my own happiness & I AM.
​Psssst.... I'm pretty sure - you ALSO have this gift!  God told me.
​Go create.

The vaccine will keep us  alive!      Hurry. LINE UP!!  Phhhhbt.  Hmmmm.. will it? 
What about those side effects.. in 3 years.  Will the vaccine change  by then for the evolving pandemic - probably.  

How many vaccines will we put into our bodies before we can't handle anymore? 

There is no vaccine for all those who will suffer from job loss, shut downs, poverty & hunger, domestic abuse.. loneliness - a shot in the arm won't help any of these situations.  
Statement heard on a CBC podcast 'IDEAS' not my origianl idea regarding on how to address the pandemic.

AS our Canadian politicians WARN & put the fear of GOD in us “WEAR A MASK!! STAY HOME!!” Then travel to tropical islands  and LIE about it by posting illusions on Instagram - sneaky fucker. Has there ever been such hypocrisy for all to SEE?   In my opinion it should end up in an automatic loss of ‘entitlement’ to the POLITICIANS who pretend to support & represent ALL Canadians.. from the beaches of another country - during a global pandemic. Clearly they can’t resist the CHEAP travel deals.. worth the cost of covid.

No wonder we don’t trust what politicians tell us anymore as Walmart Costco & Amazon thrive… Doug Ford, just another  ‘leader of the pack’ it appears but they all push the ‘miracle vaccine!’…     It seems a little ‘too good to be true’…   does it not?

In the states.. some are olny getting 1/2 the vaccine now,  you know - the same vaccine that states we need to have 2 doses for it to work.   What is it? One or two?  Will the new vaccine work for the new Covid strains? Hmmm I can't find a POSITIVE response anywhere - it MIGHT. & if you have the vaccine - you should isolate still for 2 weeks- -it could take that long. but if you have covid- no point. FUCKED up confusion on a global scale. I'll wait.

The days are getting longer… more daylight to paint!
You were created to create- go create something.   
​Next- these two (below) - a source of constant amusement, thank God.
G

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.

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
​
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.
​

I'd like to start this mental health week on a positive note with a positive suggestion:
Go into this winter (lockdown) with the mind of a caterpillar & in the spring prepare to emerg & transfigure into 2021  stronger, healthier & wiser. Why not!?
How can anyone not be wiser after all this.  I'd like to share a couple suggestions of what I KNOW works for me - it can't hurt.. yes, I've had experience with depression before a pandemic - 202o was one of our happiest years. So here goes, a few pointers to prevent depression spiraling out of control.

-Have Faith.  I can't express it enough... To have faith is everything - to have Faith is to have faith in me.  Have Faith we will continue through this.

-If you are struggling with thoughts of giving up, be brave and ask to speak to someone.
I had/have 2 Dr.s  who speak & listen... explain.  God  sent my Dr.s, I know it now.  
"I promise you Georgia, it will get better... soon you will meet someone & have your own family.."   said my Dr. sitting in his office (after hours) as he stitched me up for  'cutting', a little too deep 'that time' & I was too embarrassed to go to the hospital.  I cut my arms , thighs, abdomen with a razore blade for years... my mother never seemed to notice,  I found out later, she informed others I did it because "I was fucked up"... I sure was.  I cut because I did NOT know how to deal with the depression, I cut to hurt myself because I felt I was not wanted. I cut because I was the only one I could control.  I cut becuase it felt better to hurt myself than others. I am reminded by scars physical & mental.  
Find someone to talk to - if you can't find someone - there's ALWAYS Jesus.  

-Do not drink alcohol. So much abuse could be avoided without alcohol.  All you have to do is 'pass on the alcohol.  Because, I was raised in a 'alcohol home there are times during this pandemic - I've condiered getting drunk to forget it all, if only for a few hours. Yikes.  Not a good time to get drunk and wallow - it's easy to be swallowed by depression with all currently happening. Don't do it.. it only dulls the feelings, nothing goes away.
​After excessive alcohol, problems are usually worse as well as feeling hung over.  
I treat myself to LUCs brew in a wine glass- LOVE the blueberry Basil,  not only is it tasty, refreshing- it's good for me. Alcohol Free.   It's your choice.

Read. Craft.. learn to speak a new language...  I learned to speak Goat - just as Nugget.
Why not- NOW is the time to dream & transform - ready to spread our wings & FLY when...  we can.

With THC & TLC
​Georgia