Poppy & I visited the Gerry Museum  #gettyinspired is correct- First of all- THANK YOU!
This California Museum is like no other I visited and it's FREE!! YEP! You pay parking $15. (same as at home) - that's it.  It has a bit of everything! Furniture, clocks, glass, statues, architecture, incredible views - it's endless! All stunning but..  I was moved to choking back tears when I entered the Impressionist painting room. Oh my gouache!!!  As soon as I spied the Vincent Van Gogh Irises - I could hardly contain myself!! Thank you Google  Culture for this: Check out this link and click on the painting!   My huge painting easel is going to get such  work out when I get home - it was all I could not to break out my paint box!
The strokes UP close - thinking what was he thinking when he painted this... I felt him - for only a few seconds and my heart has been forever touched.  Emotions arose that have not.
If I lived here- it would be someplace I would visit regular and just sit and stare in the impressionist room.  You can walk right up to the painting to lean in and look at the detail. Thank you California for this, what a gift you give to the rest of the world, sharing art for FREE! They also let you download art and see for free!
​But it gets better.. I know hard to believe right?

I turned the corner and there was this room - with art and statues and drawing easels!! You mentioned to the woman & she would give out paper & supplies and  you get to sit and draw- no line up- on a Saturday at a FREE museum. wow. Of course I did. If you make it to the California area and do not visit this museum it will be your loss- Just look at the views alone:

Indoor and outdoor there is so much to look at. I am grateful for the education.
Btw- Poppy loved it! Several people - which I found very amusing were not taking photos of art but Poppy, she is incredibly behaved - it  really amazes people, jumps on my lap when ever I sit and sits quietly. She also pee's on command... TRAIN YOUR DOGS & you will be happy! Both! When we wanted a break I'd take her outside and tell her to Pee and she would, all good.  lol    Poppy & I at the Getty!  History was made.
​Give Thanks! 

All that painting I was Getty Inspired ! 
lol - I did paint this little loon with some fresh bud on his back & in his beak... just for fun!
I did leave a little painting at the Getty my first art drop! & another on my walk this morning, more on that tomorrow!  
It's time for more California dreaming..
about what ?  
Hmmmmmmmmm... that's for me and Poppy to know and you to soon find out! lol

With Love
g

'Will the Poppy's even been in bloom?
Who cares.. I smile,  I've just spent the last three days in my imagination admiring & painting them.

I'm very excited & a bit anxious now & of course have a gazillion things to do before I leave, mostly make sure Bird  will be o.k..  As you might be aware I've been quite the hermit the past few years - and now I'm off to Orange County,  blessed it's with a  friend who lives there & is going to show me around.  I landed once sitting in the front cockpit between two handsome pilots!  It was my dad who saw me landing, he was beaming! That's my girl!  lol  
The same dad  was on the plane with me at a later date only he was in the cargo dept.  
It was a unique experience.   Peaceful in many ways.. and I was able to take a special trip with him.   How many people can say that?  I'm glad we didn't fly alone' on that journey. Flying alone is clearly on  my mind.  
 
Perhaps this time Poppy & I will join the pilots!  Hardly- I'm sure things have changed since 9/11.  How blessed I've been.  I won't be alone! I'll have Poppy on my lap - Oh My Gouache Poppy & I in California.   We even have matching beach attire (not intentional!)

You absolutely know - I love 'what' I do - every day- I am God Blessed- to be able to sit here paint, listen to music e mail friends, spend time with my dogs- family and more but  with this  condition- I get no rest some days,  even lying down to nap is out of my control, I'll nap when it lets me. Good thing I love to paint & not sleep.  I am blessed also with cannabis- which keeps me doing all I love & loving every stroke.  Not taking deadly addictive pain medications that won't help.   I'm currently smoking Humber Valley Kush for any who can try it.. here I sit still working/playing at 1:50 and will be up at 5 happily anxious to start painting again!  That's a testament to  a medicine if ever.   Side effects? Giggling and a great sleep.

I never blame God for my health issues.  
I blame human evolution, chemicals, man made problems, poor food choices, too much Alcohol, not enough water.  Not being educated on many things - like inner strength, peace, meditation..    What better place to realign? The California sunshine.  

Now if I could pick the perfect plane mate to sit beside me it would be..  hmmm 5 hours they would have to be funny and amusing a little handsome.. One time I sat beside this super nice, friendly funny hunk, we laughed all the way to the Bahamas..  my 2 girlfriends were admittedly  jealous- lol   so, this time lets try for Stephen Colbert..  but I prefer grey hair.. Jeff Goldblum - yes, he would be the perfect flight companion!
​Ooooohhh on the fly with the fly! Giving  me goose bumps! 
Or Broadway bear of course.

Miracles come true.  

Broadway lifts Bear...  he makes her smile. 
It's amazing how powerful that is.


With Love
g

I found myself thinking of Canada Day & art for this celebration of 15o years.
I picked up 3 new $10 bills at the bank- to take to a couple of little friends I'll be meeting in OC. ;)

The art, I will have - this is just a warm up for my  Celebratory thinking!  
If you visit Canada and drive this  beautiful  country you will come across an Inukshuk or two. 'Rock people' I always thought growing up..  what kid has not tried to make their own?
https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/inukshuk 
I noticed you can purchase little Inukshuk kits.. It's a nice idea if they help the immediate community especially.  They are a sign "We were here" ..   Powerful if you are in the middle of nowhere,  snoozing' with Poler bear - you realize you are not alone. 
If you find one PLEASE leave it- it is a sign of respect & thanks to those who created it & to be left for the next person to see & be reminded.

Of course my Inukshuk  is Cannabis friendly, my imagination hoping.  
Bring on legalization! ​We were here - now LET's move ON & focus on Indigenous women.  
Those who NEED US the most  &  men - therefore it only makes sense the children are suffering.  HUMANS.  My Canada Day celebration would be  also dreaming, imagining a prouder Canada - who looks after everyone.  This 'hatred thing is not working. '  
​How cool Obama & Trudeau hung out this past week in Montreal- could you feel the love? Yep.
 
One moment - I'm California dreaming & creating- the next- Canada Day celebrations!
Torn between two countries & loving every second of both. What am I looking forward to most? Meeting & hanging out with someone I've known a long time, the  ocean air & beach - shell inspection and Not thinking..  

I'm not going to 'promise' any ART- blogs- anything from now  until after we return.  
It's not like I'm packing my scanner.  I'm taking very little - except paint!  ;)
The Less stress the best. I don't own a cell phone & not sure I can even set up  my iPad for mail.  It's outdated.   A real vacation!!!  

All business can wait until  we return.
Have  creative days & plan some adventures...   Mostly, believe.  
in others .. In yourself.

It's time we  focused on people, not plants.  
Especially plants that don't KILL.
I don't see them out there stopping the sales of  Lilly of the valley.  
Yet.


With Love
​G
  

As I prepare for our journey I'm thinking about Poppy and peoples reaction.  
I don't care anymore what anyone 'thinks'..  I know what I experience and I know I could probably be popping pills right now that would have me so stoned' (not in that good way) zonked  I would be very 'relaxed' for my journey, no one would mind seeing my dog on the plane with me.  I wouldn't have to worry about strangers if she stayed home - no one would dare walk up to me for no reason and say - "Hey! You takes pills?  Awwwww... Why? You don't look sick... What could those pills possibly do for you."    

I refuse to take pills that will effect my BRAIN, LIFE and MOOD for attacks which I get, that only last seconds -yet are incredibly frightening.  Poppy pulls me out- calms me down. Helps me breath- PILL FREE.. once over and I can catch my breath again, function - I don't need any pills in my system wearing me down. For what?  Whom?
To make life easier for others?  There are little ones far worse off than I am that would be doing more if WE learned to tolerate more.  Getting out with their (well behaved) service /therapy animals..  It's been proven many people carry just as many IF not more allergens on their clothing than my Poppy will on her tiny body for our flight.
 
You know how I feel about Service dogs.. pets in general- is there anything more calming for many of us than a cat who sits on our lap & purrrrrrssssss.  They help with PTSD and old aged - Pets keep many of us Going.  Pets are fantastic for kids - especially kids with no friends.  Just like I might not agree with fidget spinners in the classroom - I don't personally know any children off hand they assist - I WILL BE the first person who will tell you - let's try it BEFORE pills! Anything over pills for our kids. Fidget spinners spin!  I saw a cute photo, it was a pencil with a wooden ruler on the top 'the original fidget spinner' lol  Remember? Who did not spin it on top of the pencil.. or doodle.  Encourage doodling! 
​
Lets not get me started on medical cannabis. YES, I do wish and pray more parents & Dr.s start to investigate this before pills.  Cannabis has never been responsible for a death- let me ask you- Do you think Storm was the only kid, nope- it's been 10 years + and I know many kids- many who dose MUCH HIGHER than I - have any died from cannabis?  No.
I have never restricted my sons medical intake.  

ALL of these choices are PROVEN to help children & adults YET  society as a whole would rather not be inconvenienced, we'd rather each other Pop a pill into a mouth of  body- (especially another body) and move on.  FEATHERS that!  

Come on - the USA is NOW the leading country in drug overdoes.  With a new generation of addicts following fast at their heels. ;(   opiate addiction is at an ALL TIME HIGH- and by giving kids pills at an early age -  we are teaching them they NEED them  to function- it's inevitable they are the next addicts.
The next walking dead.   Not me,  I'll be walking my dog.

I'm not a Dr. and I 'GET' this. 
​Still teachers, family members and Dr.s who spend very little time with our children * with the exception of course*  are readily to offer advice and prescriptions.  Parents overworked, over stressed, exhausted and worried don't think long term.  Many can hardly think about the weeks groceries with so much going on.
  
IF OUR children had the CHOICE & they should (I am so thankful to God for giving Storm his defiant  stance towards medication when he was little)  it is THEIR little bodies which will be affected after all.  Long term.  
I know what most would choose..   I bet you can guess too!

NOT PILLS.

With Love
G

A couple of days off..  ;)
​xox

It's a rainy, overcast day here in Ontario & frankly, my bones hurt -  California her eI come... I am very curious to see HOW it makes me physically feel. I've been up since 5 and only now starting to feel better. Several bong hits & a dab (thanks son) later & filling breakfast cooked by Norm.  The leaves are LUSH with GREEN - so I don't care about all the rain.
The birds singing through it all - what a beautiful way to wake up... my own bird flies into my room - "I'm up I'm up!" he belts as he circles and back into he office he goes...   'O.k. Bird! I'm Up I'm Up!" Bird is getting a screen door today for when while I'm away, too bad bird. 

Whats flying by is my countdown to California - Storm reminds me 'you will home before you know it, so have GO & amazing time!   Just like I wished him when he went his last visit to Spain.  I will be back before I know it...  I will return different.  How can we ever return the same after seeing another part of the world? Meeting new friends, experiencing new tastes, sights, smells, delights, educations  - that ocean!  

Something has already kicked in-  California CREATIVITY! Wait until you see what is on my desk!  I'll share after I return- I've a few plans for some of the work I am creating - as well as  collaborating with a  couple of people I've known for years.  
It all falls into place when WE  Let it.  Surrender.  Do what you love.    
& serve the best we can..   I hope to inspire with LOVE & Paint!

My faith won't be hidden: it will be seen.  
My faith in Love. ​Good. Each other.  
​With the occasional editorial - of course.  hee hee hee

I shared my idea & new art (concept sketches) with Storm, he looked at me, like he does occasionally and said: THAT, is a great idea mom.
I think so too, but it's wasn't mine.   Give credit where credit is due.
#GodBlessed 

With Love
g

Back to painting!!!