'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

Sing it Jerry!  

Making millions around the world feel good with his words, music & actions. 
A Tiny Terrapin Jerry Turtle Tribute.
​
With Love
G

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!!!

I made the mistake of reading a magazine I was given at the LIFT EXPO & quickly became so frustrated my teeth clench. The 'Bottom line' of the article in particular...  How one should avoid Cannabis if they have a 'Mood Disorder..' & If you have tried everything else!?
Oh My Gouache  are you serious? Like what?  Pharmaceuticals?  
Like the ones that can cause a twitch that never goes away- read the symptoms- or the ones that are KNOWN proven to cause thoughts of suicide? Physical side effects, liver damage. Brain damage? 
I hang my head & sigh- I have to turn to the cover and think- O.k., Yeah, I'm pretty sure I just picked up a Cannabis magazine...   Phhhhht...   Arrrrrrghhh.
​Hyprocry all around the table it appears these days. In between the sheets & papers of the glossy magazine. 

Not something TY Magazine believed it. Free speech, possibly some of the last.
Are other magazines following the same? There is that a$$ mighty advertising dollar. It was wrote by someone in the USA who's interests are in Biological pest control...  It went on to state 'try everything else first'.  At what cost? AT WHAT COST?   $$$   I can imagine his opinion on Children & cannabis as a medicine.
I guess everyones trying to protect their ass as well.  At what cost.

Continue reading another article WOW - about CANADIAN legalization and Marketing.
"Cheech & Chong aren't going to cut it anymore" blah blah blah.  Sure, I'm in agreement - there is fabulous new marketing out there.  There is also sterile, cold and  BORING already. It all looks the same & it will all blend into one -  become almost confusing.  
I'll be very selective with whom I choose to let use my work. I know I have a style all my own as do many talented artists, not to mention our own creative ideas.  Look already, how many photos 'going into the woods.  A tree view from the ground up, cup of coffee.. it's IG of WEED & much looks the same already, perhaps others will mistake your company and use another- but it 'Looks great'. .  Yes... It will need to be very different.  
Constant creativity. 
Clearly they are NOT aware also  of the old attage- Everything Old is NEW again.
I wish I had my '80's crap' that I threw out.. that old stuff. lol is worth $$$
Lets see how soon Old is New again. 
BTW - I say 'they'  There is no 'real  person' to contact, no name.  It seems, for the entire magazine.

Here is the 'maple syrup' on this Moose dropping magazine & article get this:  
FOR this terrific Marketing Advice regarding LEGALIZATION in Canada- they can't find a Canadian Experct to consult with?  They had to consult with an AMERICAN  company? Really? 
 Do we not have any creative marketing people in Canada??  OR successful companies?
ANY ONE... Hello?    Phhhhhbt.  What a waste of painting time this morning was.
​I certainly won't be reading this gem again. Rude to many creative people on many levels. 

* Creative marketing - My son informed  later after I told him about 'what I enjoyed' - my favourite display was a  new company,  much talked about these days...  
They get a point for creativity - it was the  tiny balls that could be moved on velcro & the string that you moved on nails - very creative and encouraged conversation with EACH other... NO pesky sales person in my face & the guys on the bike making coffee. hee hee hee.  
I actually turned to a stranger and wanted to say:
"How often do you play with blue balls in Public?"      
Instead, I behaved and said...

" Don't you feel like a cat?"   he laughed & and agreed. ;)   

I doubt I'll be asked for an interview (whew). 

Back to California Dreaming, painting  & unclenched teeth.

With Love.
G.

Much.

The mushroom meal was fantastic as always.  
The Plate I painted and picked up early (thank you Crocka-doodle Georgina) was a hit and the gentleman who won it couldn't thank me enough.  I guess I've started a new tradition.. a plate to donate to each meal. My pleasure.  I plan on taking my ceramic painting up a notch.. what can I say?  Am I bragging - yeah - perhaps-  what ever you do - put all your love into it.  I will be creating  lovely works of art on ceramics because I'M going  to WORK at it, I think about it - color combinations, what if I try this -when I'm not there I think about it.
IT IS HOW you get better at whatever you do - think about it, be passionate!!!  
I'll never be called boring - that's for sure.  ;D.

Each piece of ceramics I'm still leaning & it will forever be that way, the plate was # 4.
#3 was special.. I want to teach myself how to paint the night sky so I can paint Bears.
I made Storm a cereal/noodle bowl  "We are Stardust".
Everyday we become better at what ever we put love into like our Art, a bowl we are painting  our children, each other.

If only it was that easy with humans we put/send/hug  love.
Sometimes my mind gets stuck and I don't understand it - 'It thinks about what/whom ever the Feathers it wants and it feathering makes me angry..   Breath.  I'll be gardening, painting and WHAM there it is.  Suddenly I am thinking about something completely different -almost as forced.  Where does this come from, are we meant to be thinking of something different?   I believe so. 

Do you ever 'feel love' from stranger? Someone you just meet, perhaps far away, through e mail? Yes, of course we all do.  It's how love & countless relationships begin now all across  the world. I believe the internet was created to BRING US ALL together.  Some in more intimate ways than others. Many of us disregard every time God sends someone in our lives- we ignore because we are busy, distracted, tired... many reasons.  

Invited to OC by a friend I met online almost 20 years ago, a Dr. who likes to write in his spare time (don't forget tennis), how cool is that?!  This a.m. I giggled as my Italian friend Dom on Instagram passionately describes his new Jaguar, he feels like Bond- lol, suddenly I think 'frig I've known Dom a long time..'  he lives in Italy and has been inviting me for over a decade at least to come visit.  He is also a Dr.   I seem to have a thing for attracting very intelligent men into my life - bring it on.  ;)  Intelligent, successful, passionate gentlemen, compassionate about many thing with huge hearts & FUN! Enjoyable men. They make me laugh & smile,  it  does make me laugh because 'I'm ME', and in many cases quite opposite but it is  there is an 'attraction' that's obvious all the same.  I'm thinking I am meant to travel & paint.  Some of my best friend are very smart men.  Amen. 
​Brains are defiantly appealing to me.  lol  thankfully.
Only with those who choose to use them daily. ;)  
​What does God have in store for me? Wait and see.

On the drive to the dinner due to traffic & rain the topic of losing someone in a car accident came up, Storm and I lost someone quite a few years ago now. A lovely young woman taken way too soon imo, still the thought & mention of her name tears welled in both our eyes.  Just for a second, long enough. GO enjoy this meal & time with your son. 
Does it ever heal? No, not completely.. that's 'that crack where the light/love comes in'  that others speak of..   the light is others God send and says: Look.  
Or  it's those we lost, briefly back to give us a kick in the ass.. gentle mental reminders.  
Lost love.  Don't dismiss.

I believe people who die & love us can help us, have you ever felt an embrace when your  crying on your knees?  I have..  
That embrace is  what lifts us up, takes away our tears and keep us moving forward.  
Listen.  Pay attention is all I can say, to simply disregard it as a fleeting thought- is a fleeting opportunity for love. 

Storm, on the drive to the dinner assured me..  "GO, Your going to have the best time!"
Yep. I believe we will.
NOW, I NEED to paint.. my mind is mixed this morning as you can read, and a few emotions too I'll admit. Nothing a good painting session won't help sort out.

    GOOD things coming my way!  Better every day!  
                                       I FEEL it!  

Don't you?  

with love 
g        'me'