A winter wonderland greets me in the morning before I'm even up, just looking at it makes me calm, I enjoy  resting looking at the snow in thebrances and bluejays flying by.   Until you have to venture out, then it's another story - I don't.   Not that there is anywhere to go...   which is a good excuse to hang out with the dogs and watch the fire, read, puzzled by the new puzzle the world is wondeful  right now, right here.. not so much elsewhere.
Provided I don't turn on any news...   the calm stays with me, us. 
Yesterday I wondered when I'll see Storm again.. May ? June.. what about the vaccine..  
forget it - who can think about all this and not become exhausted...
I'll focus on the Tao way and understand the chaos is part of the plan. 

I don't even know what to think about the president of the USA takeover tomorrow,  I do hope it goes smoothly for the Americans, it's been a difficult few years already.  
What do you think about Canadians in Florida getting the vaccine?
 If I lived in Florida yes, I would probably be upset too to be honest.  
The WHO warning of a moral crisis - no shit.  

Speaking of shit - did you see the netflix special on swearing with Nicholas cage?  
I fucking told you... lol.  Well done & interesting.
I understand why I swear with this twitch.. maybe more people will become understanding with those of us who find it hard to control - if not who gives a fuck... IF my swearing is your biggest concern,  you are a dick and need to put your energy where it's needed - how about world hunger?   In a few years 'Fuck won't mean 'shit.. it doesn't now - only to those with little else to ponder.  

Norm is kicking ass in the kitchen lately and the pounds on my ass are proof.
​Positive pandemic moments= Norms cooking skills have improved greatly.
Back to painting Bears  since I'm feeling a bit bearish' I may as well go with the flow.

Look at the view I wake to each morning!  
It's no illusion or dream  as I watch the stars at night and the sun rise in the morning,  I'm so grateful to God to be here.. I thankful all day every day - I guess that was part of the Plan.

Bible Painting is a peaceful  process. Amen.

I treated myself to a new Bible a while back- and Illuminated bible - with Gold pages and beautiful art.. I’ve read the bible- this will be my third time & I’ll be drawing what ‘amuses  & intrigues’ me.  

My opinion of the bible has changed with my age & mentality… at this stage in my life I am reading and enjoying and pondering leisurely. Cathy @ Masters bookstore  in Haliburton  is very helpful and thoughtful, since I’m not going in to the store - I view online whats available, call Cathy & Norm picks it up!  Cathy chose a weekly day timer for me - I just said I like Bird, Plants & God - lol  she picked a lovely day timer that also has Bible quotes and what to read each day - in order to read it by the end of the year.  Im set!

I’m actually ahead of where I should be, as I read I quickly sketch - whatever it is that  catches my attention - and it’s different than I’d imagine you’d find in other bibles… like the hand with the red string on it -I found very interesting. ;)

Are you looking for the ultimate ‘self help ‘ book - this is it… Just ask MANY - Many great ‘spiritual’ leaders of our time mention the bible.  Reading it during a pandemic is .. interesting- I am seeing with new eyes & it’s very AWAKENING.  I understand how many scholars have worked on the bible through the centuries & how much thought has been given to the word of God.   I don’t believe YOU NEED to read the bible to become closer to God- BUT to be a better human to each other  - there’s no better guide book.
Take the 10 commandments for example- pretty straight forward rules to follow for a righteous life.  I still struggle from time to time about women in the bible - Jacob Petersons perspective  has proven very exciting & accurate, imo, especially pertaining to Adam & Eve…  I’ve very excited for his new book. 

What are you focusing on? The deadly pandemic? Job losses, financial struggles, health issues? I can tell you I have struggled with them all!  It was NOT until I really decided to focus on God, out of struggle & exhaustion - I surrendered - many times.  Each time realizing - I should have handed it over to God sooner.  Above all else I have learned - God brings everyone into my life for a reason & visa versa - EVERYONE… & every lesson eventually, ends of being one that makes me wiser, richer & happier. 

Sometimes I wonder - REALLY Lord?  This person??  This person causing me grief?? 
Why are they in my life?  Not always clear at first… then I understand it is  for ME to fucking humble myself - get past my own EGO & issues & to: Pray for them.  

It’s really that simple.  Praying for someone is powerful - it’s asking GOD to help others not yourself - the actual miracle starts with the love that inspires a miracle.  
Me praying for some when they have hurt me or others - is a miracle in itself.

I can’t force anyone - but I hope to inspire many- read your bible!  Not only is it interesting & entertaining, IT has BEEN the most popular, best selling MOST read self help book on the planet for a reason. I’m excited to spend the day painting - it will be my most prized possession when finished.

God Bless!

There's a flock of Bluejays ready to take off - I’ve enjoyed the company of each one.
Here is the latest flock of bird houses ready to go - Tom & I took a break 
&  it’s a good time to mention Norm does the wood detailing for me- the heads and tails ;)

Each time I design one of these houses’ it’s already in my mind and the next is completely different & waiting… when will that be, I’m not sure.  IF you want one you should respond  quickly as they go fast. I had someone tell they were disappointed they could not buy a chicken in time. Chuck Cluck!   SQUAWK!! SQWAK!! is what the bluejays say!

Tom is still raising funds for the community, not an easy task during difficult times all around,  as long as he wishes to continue I will too,  by the Grace of God. 

I’ve been working on a very special project - Bible painting & it’s inspired a ‘few editorials, the bible is an interesting book, I’ve read it -  perhaps this is my 3rd time - each time it’s as if reading it through new eyes with a mew mind - I guess that’s true.  This time - is by far the most enjoyable, entertaining & thought provoking. ;)
 
I’ve got my birds all over my house! One of each - It will be fun when I actually decide where to put them all.  Tom will have these Bluejay birds Monday Afternoon - if interested- look up ‘Tom the Bird house guy in Minden’   He’s a nice man - say hello & please keep your distance, I want him healthy & building for a long time! ;)

SHOP, EAT, Explore… LOCAL.​
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Below -  Check out the lovely sunrise I witnessed!  
Amen.

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 

Editorials in the local paper - catch me off guard- especially when  - mine. ;)
Its neat, I must say - every time it happens.  
It was a childhood goal - so yes, I still smile every time...
so was the Hallmark card! I had two ;)   I have more goals coming to fruition.
It has happened several times & I'm continually grateful!  God has made it clear:
            I am to serve by drawing & painting,  each time I do I am hapiest & at peace,  

That's what God wants - us to be joyful and at PEACE..     PEACE - with each other.
& has made it so, I can DO just that   & BE who God created me to be.
Yay! 

I take this seriously & paint all the time - ask Norm.  In between creating I get to hang with smelly dogs and play with a thriving baby goat & goats - it does not get much better than that! lol  I'd like to see more serious editorials get more attention - I'll try harder is all.  Perhaps differnet venues - the world is possible with the internet - as is our imagination.

Hairy Pawter is next - it did'nt look finished so back to the easel it went.
It's the closest to Halloween I think I'm going to get this year.
Have a creative day! Soon Trump will NOT be president & I won't have so many TRUMP toons in my head & this will be a relief!
​YAY! Let alone the world will be better off. haha

I also painted Arrow.. for fun

My son dropped off a gift!  A 'handme down'- that ROCKS & ROLLS!  lol 
I have wheels again!  
My little white PU was no longer reliable for long journeys, does not have 4 wheele drive and was no longer a 'joy to drive, worried  each outting - if I'd make it back home. 
No more worries!  Storms 'old truck runs great & is roomy for my girls, already broken in with Daisy Dog hair.
I can wait to take them hiking, I am a doggy limo driver & LOVE it.
Storm got  a new vehicle, exciting times -  I remember my first new truck & how exciting it was - reason for a road trip!  I drove  by myself to Halifax & back (when 20) - with my new truck..    I'm elated for Storm as I know how hard he works and the 'distance' he goes.  

I did not go for a drive due to fucking covid and having to wear a mask and stuff... puppy, baby goats - stuff.. I hope to take a road trip with him sooner than later  as son as this is over. I'm already planning where we will go first... it's going to be fantastic driving with the girls not cramped in the tiny area behing my seat. lol   
Currently the snow has me keeping the fire going and working on some projects happening for the holidays.

I am IN full  creative mode, by the grace of God.
My preffered place to BE.

I giggled thinking - it must be for all those great driving lessons I gave him ! Hahaha
When he was 15.. driving home one day on the back empty farm roads, I pulled over and said " Time for you to drive! You're getting your license soon."  I still remember the look of shock - is 'she messing with me?'  on his face.   When he realized I was serious, he jumped in the drivers seat and drove with a grin from ear to ear.. for about 20 minutes.
One old truck passed us -in the opposite direction and he tried to sit taller in the seat.  
hee hee hee     Countless hours were spent in the highschool parking lot- practicing parking in between the lines,  I let him drive everywhere, he was a very good driver.. from the start,  what a relief it was to see & learn... I slept easier because of it.  

​My son and I went on many adventures especially to the city for our TY EXPO- - some of the best memories were created and the best conversations on our long drives.
​I'm forever grateful for every mile.  I look forward to our continued journey & long drives.

It was a full circle moment for me & my heart feels a bit bigger. 
Nice to be loved.
Blessed to be - Thank you God.
Next- Hairy PAWter ;)  

​>^..^<

Grateful.  I am.  I think I'll make the image above a puzzle! lol
  
I went for a walk with my girls, time to train the pup to stick together in the woods & then must listen when I say come as we know, there are bear.  What a successsful first try!
We are refreshing the Happy Puppy Training kit and was reminded of wise words by the creator Rachelle, you want a happy puppy, and it's easy to lose patience I am also reminded..  stepping in a puddle of pee or poop.
She is house trained already - YAY Happy Puppy kit! Yay me!! Yay Arrow!
You don't want a dog that is afraid of you - they won't come when called- still, your dog needs to know you mean business.   Truly, this kit has helped me with the past 3 dogs and more so now. I am grateful.

The woods are awesome, the leaves stunning.. yellow & orange and just now really falling, the fresh path of pine needles & leaves is soft to walk on. I 'watched' pine needles shed this year - for the first time in my life - it's quite beautiful if you can catch it- I can from my sofa before I nap. I am grateful.

My son is busy and happy... although not visiting for thanksgiving, it is not encouraged. 
I am grateful for him, always & each FaceTime. text messages and a phone call 
Grateful for this internet service - though lacking in speed & quality like 1999. ;)
I am grateful for my dogs... such bringers of laughs and joy and adventure.
Norm is busy.. (understatement) but content... too busy to be anything else - wood to chop  - winter's coming ! 

I am grateful for the editorial cartoon idea I just got called:
Super Spreader.

I am grateful of the halloween painting idea that will take me all day.. I am grateful for my neighbours, trees, birds & still a few lingering bees! 
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We are teaching: Do not ever- touch anything on this coffee table..
Poppy was watching too - and would growl if Arrow even smelled it.
Our dogs are trained so I can leave food on the coffee table and they will not take it.
"Don't touch!"   I am grateful to report that treat is still there, 2 days later. 
Happy Puppy Training - continues.

Another Holiday Monday! It's raining and there no such thing as a holiday on a farm - lol 
What an education this all is, this tiny farm.  Life.  Up with the roosters - no sleeping in with feathers & fur relying on you.  Keeping busy is good for the sole & mind & body.  I'm always stiff in the morning - with age let alone arthritis... not until Im up and active & loosen it all us does the pain of stiffness subside.  Use it or lose it!  
Farmers deserve more respect than they are given, feeding humans - is lots of work.
​I do NOT consider us farmers'  -  this is a hobby.
I'm learning to pickle eggs! I give eggs away too.. chances are they have faces on them.  

I can't imagine  drinking to the point of a hang over and having to deal with animals... they don't care if humans are hung over.  I hate hang overs so much I am grateful for  having experienced some "doozies"  in the past.. lessons learned - it took a while. 
I just won't anymore. It's not worth destroying braincells for a "feel good"... is it feel good?   Compared to cannabis  the more I think of it- the less I think alcohol makes anyone "feel good".  Sure it relaxes the body and mind - too much sometimes.    
It's sad when you understand,  Alcohol is the number one date rape DRUG. 
Think about it for a moment.   

Some drink to forget.  I use to use that escuse myself, a few times.  Ha.
It might make you forget for a bit, until it makes you wallow & get stuck in exactly what you were trying to forget about.  I remember my mom crying a lot drunk, aways talking about the same stuff.  Her past pains passed on to me during drunken stupors - because I was there to listen.  Told so many times and then left to ponder, I bet my mom has no clue as how much I remember of the details... coats, bundle buggies, curtains being closed, sibling rivalry  (I was not raised with my siblings so I don't know about it) all on how she suffered.  Who cares.
 That's part of the problem.. not many do care. Then or now.  I get it.  I think Melania was kinda right. GASP - yuk but... yep.   Not many really care.  They are distracted with their own lives.  AS life intended. Throw in Covid... big distraction going on.

The only thing anyone should care about NOW is breaking the cycle.
​RECOGNIZE & don't repeat what YOU did not enjoy as a child/adolescent.  How about that?  It's a holiday!
​Does that mean you're going to get 'shit faced'  (term for getting drunk)?
Sure go ahead! IF YOU don't have kids you are responsible for. 
They don't need to listen to your past pains  I think as parents we should be trying to make their path easier - even if it means sharing not pleasant topics by talking, educating (not impaired)  the more the tiny humans know the better they will be.  They are smarter than most realize. Id rather a child be taught early about "molestation" than to learn by having it happen - because they did not know - to say "NO!"  

? Tuff call.
Tomorrow is a tuff call for many parents... back to school  during covid - as it slowly creeps back up.  Pray for strength to get through, because life has to go on. 

The hamster was my 16th birthday gift, my friends wanted to take me out for my sweet 16th I was told "NO, come right home, we are celebrating"                YAAAY!
I spent the evening alone, no special dinner, no cake.  I was waken up around 2:00a.m. and given my birthday gift...  which I loved.  I guess she got side tracked. I was use to it.
Teddy died a couple of YEARS later while eating a McDonalds french fry, he was so old and arthritic he could hardly walk.  He was a wonderful, adorable pet & tiny companion.

With THC & TLC     I hope you have an alcohol free holiday!
Break the cycle. Life is not all cracked up as were led to believe.. hee hee- egg jokes.
Oh-  My chickens count how many eggs they lay!   They are mathemachickens.    
 lol Heard it on the radio, canoe.
​ 
Georgia

Something fishy going on..   lol  
I do not normally take commissions - this does not stop others from asking. ;)  
I'm glad I was asked to paint this cartoon.. I try to squeeze in a few comics still..
​A friend asked if I could create this cartoon  & he sent me a pretty good sketch - so it took little creaivity on my part.  How often does one get to paint a fish with a cocktail and smoking pipe.  ;)  If you fish for Musky in particular - you should check out Dadson blade baits, he is on Instagram.  I know Storm used them and was a successful musky fisherman.

Check these EGGS out! Cluck cluck! 

These are this mornings eggs!  I can't stop giggling and staring in amazement, 5 hens & 5 eggs... it's the cream of wheat! Sprinkled with organic hemp. I told Norm to go easy on breakfast or our chickens will get big and then starting to sing  "... he likes big breasts and cannot lie.."  hee hee  
The last egg is so big I'm painting it after Norms drills a hole so I can empty it, biggest egg I've ever seen... slightly mis-shaped, I bet it was felt on the way out... yikes.  Once you have fresh, organic - healthy & happy chicken eggs - you won't buy bland boring mass produced eggs ever again.  In  a perfect world every family would raise thier own chickens.  I feel my world is pretty perfect these days, especially after mornings like this.  
I've thanked our chickens for every single egg & will continue to do so.

Back to  the details of my newest painting,   "Maaaaaa!!!"   which I am very pleased with.  
Do you like eggs? Got a favorite recipe? Feel free to share ;)
georgiatoons@gmail.com

Shcools are returning in the fall- it should be interesting.  
I hope it's not a deadly decision...
I think I'd opt to homeshcool for a little while If I was in this situation.
Grateful I'm not, praying for thoses  who are.

​with TLC & THC

I woke on Sunday and noticed a car at the gate, I called to Norm - Go see who's at the gate this early!!  Apparently our son decided to visit (arriving late) and was sleeping in the porch!  First I can't believe how tired I was - the dogs were barking - I assumed it was the weekly nightly bisit from a racoon, bear - soemthing that set the dogs off & I ignored it & went back to sleep.  How nice to find out I was mistaken! YAY!! 

The last time Storm was up we were  digging holes to start the coop!  This time he was meeting the extended family' - lol Chickens and goats!  That was fun!  Goats have a strong sence of smell- they smell everythng I offer before nibbling and often turn their nose up - if not pleased.. I think they can smell 'Storm is family' because they instantly  took to him, let him pat them and were curious about him.  Goats are social yet skittish and althogh we can pat them, we've not been able to pick them up & you need to - to cut nails, care for them properly if hurt.. Storm made it look easy.  The chase funny,  once he had them they rested in his arms & didnt even put up a fuss, it was really amusing!
Just like the chickens when you pick them up - they just  sit there.  It went really well & I have some fun photos - I've already started the next of Storm & Sativa on a wodden panel.

We went for a family HIKE! The girls LOVED IT, us too.  It was a personal foray dream, the trails hardly disturbed & literally covered with mushrooms, you could not walk 3 feet without seeing one.  I couldn't even take photos of all the mushrooms or it would have taken forever..
The mosquitos! OH MY - nasty little bloodsuckers,they LOVE me. If I stopped they attacked.  Other than that is was a great hike, the dogs all dog tired, us too.
Rhubarb is the closest restaurant to us - we decided to have take-out & it too was fantastic! 
What a perfect way to end Sunday & visit.   Storm had to head back that night -  it was a short but  fun filled adventure.  

Storm also treated me to a lovely lunch at Boshkong brewery & restaurant in Minden & we and caught up on a few things.  Mom stuff, mostly.  I am grateful he is so busy during these times, he is too.  What a wonderful surprise visit.  Time to paint- what a beautiful day in the highlands.

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