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! 
​
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.

Hee Hee! That was the most fun I've ever had with a commission!!  When approached - it took me all of 3 seconds to decide... YES!  I was asked to paint these doggos (some still here & some passed) - the concept alone was exciting. The client had no idea of the direction I was going and this painting was a bit bigger than she suggested.  I asked for 3 photos of each dog and a paragraph on each dog.. then, I started & became so caught up - it was like they were my dogs, I forgot to even take photos.  The timing perfect,  soon we welcome our new baby & I have dogs on the brain.  This was hard for me to part with & harder to keep since it was already paid for haha.   It was also heavy as it is painted on wood. Thanks to Norm for his assistance.  The client is very pleased... which has me beaming.  
Painted with LOVE... it is loved.  I love to paint. More than ever before - it's this hill. It's why when I first stepped out of the vehicle on the first visit here - I KNEW, this is it. 

When I first told people where I lived - everyone asked - The puppet house? Do you have a sweet little sauna? Well.. YES! I do have a  sweet little sauna, as for puppets house, I have no clue.  Then, it was dolls of some sort, finally we fond out the house up the hill was the place that made Wrinkle dogs. Remember them, big in the 8o's? How cool & fun must that have been - VERY - when I still see people smile who said they were up years ago when they did the puppet show.  Then I researched a little further to find out the creator (rockstar) Catherine Senitt was also an amazing painter! Talk about a creative genius... it appears this woman did it all. I then found her website  Cathy Senitt & was  up all night looking over her art.  I knew it felt special.. this hill. I have BIG brushes (paint) to follow.. lol  Below is one of her works I love- birds of course but I recommend you check out her website to see how vibrant her art is!! 

I still feel Cathys energy  & am blessed because of it.  I knew it!
Each morning I wake - inspired- what shall I paint today!?   What can we create! 
I am planning a 'Tribute' painting reflecting one of Cathys, for my home (which I understand was built for her parents).   As for all her awards, galleries..  I can still dream.
I have reward enough by waking up each morning surrounded by all this beauty- thank God.

There is no contact info on her website. I hope she is still well, thriving & absolutely still painting. I'm blessed because she shared this hill & art before me. I live on a hill named after a successful Canadian Artist! Female! Ha!

I can't stop.. do what you love.  Cathy obviously did - all those puppets! Oh my gosh, I wished I would have known and visited the puppet house - as a kid... even happier to
 Be HERE NOW. 

Inspired by love you will not fail & the message that the client sent me was full of love. ;)
Yay! Support your local artists! 
with THC & TLC
​G

 Remember when Pinocchio grew ears and a tail!?  I was horrified, lol   I think that's why I never smoked or even tried as a kid, really.  It stuck with me that mental image.  Now, I think Pinnicchio was smoking more than he realized. Or perhaps inthe waves waiting for the whale he popped a tab... something to help him with the transformation  trauma.    
Have you shown your little one Pinocchio?   I'm watching it later this rainy afternoon.

The wood stoved passed with flying colors- RED! I knew it would, Norm installed it.
When we bought this house the old fireplace had to be removed and replaced. 
I choose completely different  from the existing as it opened up the house.
We did 'splurge' on the fireplace, it heats the entire house & sits in the middle of it, viewable from almost everywhere.   My brother remarked - Norm will need help! He won't get that in by himself..          Phhhbt.  Doubters.
No comment, then or now...  I know what Norm is capable of - more than Norm.

I call it "ninja moves,  Norm does stuff and I don't even see him!  It can be small or big - the other day I was panting & before I knew it - the fireplace was in the living room & ready to LITE! Yee Haw!  He even flipped the giant rock it sits on - that's brains for you - over braun. 
The inspector showed up Sunday- gave us the approval & remarked - 'Amazing job.  FYI  (in Canada) IF you don't get a licenced person to SIGN off when you change your fireplace,  your insurance company can & will deny payment if you have a fire.  Do it.

We are thrilled with this investment', it's fire engine red, until it gets hot then it turns a deep burgendy.  The viewing area is huge but the efficancy is  beyond  efficant! It  has 2 warming shelves since I used the last for cooking  I knew what I was hoping for, the 'top load' is a cook plate! Glove (slipper) warmers and  red cast iron dragons as detaills.   It's damp today so we lit it and in 10 minutes we are walking around  in shorts.  Not only is it stunning to look at  not lit - lol - but lit, Oh my! I also am amazed with how differently it does burn,  long and slow & bigger log mean: NO MORE GETTING UP in the middle of the night! Brutal in -40  mornings. hahaha  & I can easily heat my house to wear short & T this winter, if I want,  bring on the blizzards!!!  Ginger absolutely adores the new fireplace, can you tell?
Below you will see the photos and how it changes colour.  I highly recommend it, we purchased it from Mason House in Georgina.

* I have to add Norm said: You picked that fireplace & said we would be putting it in our new house, before we even saw this new house & it is PERFECT for this red house.  ;)
I thank God, with every match, every single time I lite it - out loud.
 The fuel is free.. in the backyard.  It's also work.  
I ask all guests' who express a desire to visit, especially in cooler months...
Can you use a chainsaw? I think, it discourages some.   Good.
Chop Wood & Carry Water.   How we live. Don't like it - don't visit.

Time to finish my 'BLUE Queen of Algonquin Highlands' & tell you about the amazing Canadian FEMALE artist who 'use' to live on this hill! After I sit by the fire & snuggle my girls and watch Pinnicchio with a hot chaga tea & fresh baked cookies, bong easily accessable.   Norms chopping wood.  

Hahaha... that made me laugh out loud. He would too.
Norm is the happiest I've ever seen him.    ;)

With THC & TLC G

What do you do with extra eggs? Make a pie!  Norm loves it. 
It was seriously, THAT easy.
In a blender - in a pie plate- in the oven in my belly!  Haha!

It was really good warm last night as it cooled down here... & terrific cold as it heated up outside!  The perfect pie to whip up for company.. '0' mess - A BLENDER. lol
Can you tell how thrilled I am...  Norm thinks I worked my ass off making this delicious treat.. hahaha A BLENDER!   High  five Georgia.  
​Extra eggs? I reccomend this pie. 

Now to create a painting or two..or 3.

with THC & TLC
​

I forgot to show you the goat barn Norm whipped up. Hee hee.
We thought the goats would stay with the chickens but it will be too crowed in the winter we think so.. the goats needed their own place.  They moved themselves under the coop at first and we close that in.. but decided it would be too cold in winter. Canadian winters - brrrr.

Norm decided to make a barn, he had the plans  from our shed he built  15 years ago.  It's so sweet - smaller than the coop but it doesnt feel like it & it is a replica of the coop & our house.  It has us planning our guest BUNK bed bunkie (to be continued at a later date).

  The goat barn is raised of the ground and fully insulated with a vent. It has room for storage like their big metal can with locking lid (will be dented shortly after you put it in) for goat food. It's lined with straw for the floor and winter warmpth. Apparently you just keep adding straw (we do take out the poop tho) and this too will help insulate the barn - keeping the goats warm all winter. Im not worried at all.. Oh, theres also light and an outlet where we might put a heated bucket - for water in the winter. We'll see. NO HEAT LAMPS!!   I can not tell you how many times I read over & over about the dangers of heat lamps, glass, fire etc.  enough to convince me NEVER to put in a heat lamp.  Why our coop & barn and fully insulated...  Baby - you know it's gonna get cold out.

Raised feeders on the wall with a cinder block to step on, mineral block  beside feeder on wall out of way & keeping dry &  a hay feeder Norm made in about 10 minutes, they love it!  With lots of storage - a shelf up top for extra food (the goats can't reach)  a raised 'bed shelf" &  smaller loft as Goats don't like sleeping not the ground.  What turned out cool is they like to sleep in the tiny loft together and they keep warm - but they are high up enough to see out the windows.  The windows are screened in & will have plexiglass windows placed on them soon.  Norm still needs to put on a strong  tiny barn door' but the goats are good to go - int winter! I read we won't hardly see them & if it's anything like rain - they never came out of their barn other than to stretch or if I called them out but only then to run under the coop- they really did not like the rain.  It's been a fun learning adventure to sate & thanks to Norm - a first rate adventure! The goats don't try to escape- they know how good they have it. lol   I'm painting a sign for the Barn:  

No Grumpy Goats
             Barn
We have happy goats & chickens. Poppy is the goat police! If she see's them doing something they should not- she is on it! & shes been BUTT a couple of times. I teach her to stay by me. Sativa has a thing for the little dogs. I think she thinks she is playing.  Shemight be wearing pool noodles on her horns soon.

What an awesome adventure. So happy to be here. Thanks Norm! 
​ Thank you Jesus!  Baaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

That's what I hear everytime the goats call.. "Maaaaaa!!!" 
When Storm visited he picked up the goats to show us it couldbe done.. wellby him & Norm.. not me.  They need to be picked up if hurt or in trouble and to have their nails trimmed.  The actual picking up was the challenging  part, once up the goats did not move only yelled:  "Maaaaaa!! "  Whcih made us all laugh.   Goats are so much fun. 
The more they like me tho- the more I learn.  I was almost goosed by my goat when i turned my back on Indica to feed Sativa treats- he bumped me to let me know- turn around. LOL which I did!  He clearly was playing but I can now see how a real head butt to the butt would be felt indeed.

I showed the goats the painting- Indica was jealous and they started to fight over it as seen below...

Sativa was obsessed with it,  I don't think I'll hang it in the barn - as I like it too.  
Sativa  would not leave it alone, clearly loving her special portrait with Storm.
These goats make me laugh every time I'm out there, I wonder how they'll like our Canadian winter.  They have a new insulated, beautiful goat barn, I'm sure they'll be fine.
These wooden panels are fun - I like how you can stand them instead of hanging them.

Have a creative day & a lovely weekend.  I'll be painting, something.
We have BIG - LITTLE news next week, life changing- for us.  Yay!
with TLC & THC
​

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

Welcome  . Be here Now  .  Teach Only Love, that is what WE are. 
3 important messages I want to share... painted NOW on my welcoming gate post  totem.
This sign is as much for me as it is for all who enter.  More meaning for me of course.. we all need reminding from time to time. 

First I added the chicken, Ive been telling friends to come get excess eggs and now they know where - behind the chicken.  Laid Daily...  lol   eggs.  Seeing the chicken in the forrest made me giggle.. even with few(er) trees behind it. 

The top is a cannabis leaf crown with a Bee.. with out the bees - we are finished.. Be kind. 
Welcome : if you are here and coming in - you must have been invited - so WELCOME!
The sacred heart crown on a fox with a big smile - pointing up to remind me of a Higher purpose & the hand symbol for I Love you.   Any Eye of God flower crown- protecting our home & property, on a bear spirit holding the beehive  also remind us BE here NOW.  Enjoy all Gods glory surrounding us. & above all else a reminder - mostly to myself Teach only Love, that is what we are.

I don't alwasy teach love. Do you? I am human.. I do eventually. I've thought much about my gate this past week and trees & I've come to the conclusion to Let it go and give it to God because it's more improtant in this case to be peaceful than right.  Covid has played a part too- a thousand people are daying a day.. ;(  The saddness must be mounting.  Many are effected by covid & don't even know it. I don't mean physical symptoms.

I feel safe here in our tiny oasis, blessed to be here...  and have never ever liked seeing any trees cut down (that are not dead) ever.  I was pondering my neighbour who does have a business & no doubts a little more stressed perhaps than we are... because my first impression of him (last summer) was good.  I forced myself to remember this. So I wanted to teach ONLY love - because that is what i am.  Practice what I preach - I had to wait a few days to make sure the card was drawn with love. It was.
 I painted him a card & will deliver it. 

I'll let it go and leave it with God.  It was the kids that  helped me- kids I've never met but was hoping to  actually have some painting classes with - covid interfered before I could ask.  I did hint tho, lol  & above all else - it is important to "me," that any kids living close know- if they ever need help - they can count on us as neighbours to help as best as we can.  
I SEE covid making people NOT so neighbourly. Causing some of us (all of us at one time or another) to "snap" and perhaps say and behave how we don't normally.   What is the point over staying angry?  It only adds to ones own stress.  I'd rather watch dragonflies and paint.
 
with TLC & THC
Me.

 Discovery in the coop!  
Woodchips! Weeeee - we have a woodchipper & a Pine tree fell (on the driveway)- perfect for the PEN. Reading Food for the Gods - talk of woodchips and how easily mushrooms grow in them - sure enough, Norm spied a tall mushroom (no idea of the type) in the middle of the path - gave me a giggle.  Chickens eat most anything I read, I wondered what would happen to a chicken who eats a pyscadelic.   Cockadoodle dooooo!  They see in full color so I'm sure it would be quite the trip.  They wouldn't die.  Bird did not eat everything I gave him, he was quite selective - Chickens are smarter than most give them credit & boy oh boy -are they curious,  I don't plan on feeings them psilocybin anytime soon.

We do have a cannabis plant in the pen- right on the deck of the coop & it's being ignored by goats & chickens. I wonder if this will change once buds appear- yes, it will because I'm not giving it to them! LOL   I'll be treating myself to some home grown.  Storm grew them, I'm just watering & watching the green beauties develop.

 There is nothing neater than going into the coop and finding eggs, I say finding - because they hide them- NOT in the nesting box, behind hay stacks, behing feed pails, behind trees.. we feel like a Easter egg hunt every day - we are averaging 2 a day - which is more than sufficant! We don't eat eggs daily  & the next time Storm visits he will go home with a  dozen fresh eggs! 

It's time to paint the next portrait- TOM.. the background is complete, I sit in this tiny studio with an endless view of green, birds, beasts & goats calling & I feel beyond blessed! They do, they call & look right at the dining room window when I go and talk to them, unless I go outside.  They are funny & sweet but not letting me pat them... yet.  Indica seems to like me more and has starting sitting in my chair!  Sativa has issues with Poppy & Poppy is not impressed.   lol  Goats- making us smile...  
​
What else is making me smile these days- the thought of TRUMP being GONE.  
Then, we will ALL have something to TRULY celebrate in 2020!
I wish, Michelle Obama would run. 

With TLC & THC
Georgia

We have our designated farm chores.  I get up and let everyone OUT, when Foghorn starts shouting "Rise & SHINE!!!".  I open the chicken door, I open the goat door (yes, that's new)  all the dogs follow to pee.   All loose - I return for my first coffee -then, I make the chickens breakfast. They LOVE cream of wheat sprinkled with hemp and a tiny bit of whatever fresh fruit. Norm gets up usually an hour later, he gets his coffee & we go out again. 

​Norm puts the animals to bed, the first night he was chasing chickens, the goats refused to get out from under the coop so, there they slept. The next day we sealed the goat area in- so we don't have to worry about bears or other attacking them at night. It was last minute but has worked out absolutely fantastic.  It's like a movie.  All the animals GO to bed on their own already - so easily, it shocks us.  The chickens go in the coop and roost-  Norm counts them and locks up.  The goat run around to the door underneath the pen and run in! He locks them in and all is good..  Who knew - not us. We've laughed in amazement at these creatures.  It's proving to really be, the zen den.  We have 2 chairs and we sit & watch & laugh, mostly. Like when Sweet Sativa climbed up the chicken walk and right thru that small door!   Then a chicken came out, then she came out,  then Ginger!  lol  
Ginger - if we let let would live in the coop,  I have to go and physically remove her.
 
It's been a full time job for weeks & now we get to sit & enjoy, that we do!  Yesterday sitting there in silence- just enjoying the moment- we looked around and realized EVERY creature was lying down around us. Every chicken.  Every dog, every goat. Everyone was happily zen, listening to the birds in the heat of the afternoon.  I've never felt mentally healthier or at peace.  Thank you Lord.

I am choosing to stay home !  why leave this Eden?
Norm understands & is o.k. to go.  for the basic grocery run & of course to the lumberyard.
What's not good for mental health,  this mass mask manipulation & confusion - on or off, bull.  Mandatory when in public spaces is mandatory. A large family of tourists  (all you had to  do was watch & listen for a moment to know they were tourists) was walking along haliburton going into stores- not one with a mask. I thought I wonder, where they are from.. what does it matter?  We have no control over others, especially not strangers.  Will our number start o shoot up again like the USA? lets hope not.
The DONkey still in charge, still says it's FAKE news. Is he done yet?  According to the news - anyone can run now- since the bar has been set so high by the current occupant.. yikes. No wonder my Americans friends seem a bit  more 'stressed', these days.  I feel sorry for the USA - which is providing the rest of the world with the impression, it doesn't care about itself  OR each other.   SELF LOVE is key...  they appear to have very little.
Selfish... seems to be more accurate.

Why take a chance?  If they suggest wearing a mask - wear a mask or stay home.
The cartoon is exactly what we said to each other out waiting in LONG lines for stuff we don
t really NEED. Forget that.
Wear a mask & decrease your chances of catching a deadly virus or don't and gamble with your life or the lives of your friends and family. That's the most selfish part...  Those who don't give a crap about others - Like the president of the USA, Eh.  To throw a July 4th celebration ? How many lives dead?

I choose to stay home so I don't see some with & some without I choose self love if I DO go out & WEAR a mask- for others as much as myself. There nothing we 'NEED' that's more important than our health - physical or mental.  Norm is loving the farm- it's obvious & he has built a tiny Eden for our beasts.... changing as the animals let us know  what to change. 
We have no time to wallow or worry, our animals are teaching us much.  & when we have free time- I paint & he builds - what ever he wants.  
​Life is wonderful & both of us are happier than we've been - this is how it's suppose be. Amen & thank you.

The goats are bleeting now, "come out & hang out!!!  It's irresistible.  
I posted a really cute vid on IG & am posting it on the official 'ZEN HEN DEN' page.  Have peek if interested.   Have a lovely hot Canadian day!  It's too hot for a mask- stay home. lol 

With THC & TLC
Georgia