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'

eYeah!! It's foray season!  I've already had morels fried up twice! Nom Nom!  As you know I designed the posted for the 40th Cain Foray - & I've a few ideas still- one is to encourage kids!  I noticed from time to time there are little ones who join the forays and as expected- they get bored... so, I thought I'd make this cute little Scavenger hunt poster!  There is something the sheet for everyone to find!  They might not find the mentioned mushrooms Morel might not be in season) but it will encourage them to explore and discover! 
We printed a few and will attach them to clip boards and hand them out to little explores should they joins us.  a FREE color download - IF you want to take our little Mushroom hunter out in the backyard!  The most important point you must teach your children is:
                     Do NOT eat anything you find in the wild. 

They could become understandably confused, seeing mushrooms in the grocery store and also on the driveway. TEACH them the difference.  IT'S your job parents, not the schools - to educate your little ones on being safe in nature and also - YES!! Come join us on a foray
(you need to become a member) & introduce your children to EDIBLE mushrooms!  Show them the variety nature provides.   Teach them which are safe to eat- Teach them how to FRY them up!  My son (the Foray director) pulled out his camping stove, butter & frying pan at the last foray and a wonderful gentleman contributed his Morel find for all to share! Im making him a special thank you card.  It was magnificent mushroom moment.
Mushrooms are fascinating!!  

Are they little artists? Now is the time to break out the sketch book- I'm often  overwhelmed and ONLY pick 3 off the table at the end of the day to take home and paint.  If I am at a foray I'll be sketching and will gladly help any little artist. I met one this past weekend 'Isabelle.  Her mom showed me a terrific drawing she did of a Robin & Blue cat smiling up at him - lol & she is talented.  I gave her a little sketch of a morel & snail.  NEXT- I'm working on coloring sheets to have at the Foray as well.  
Children are OUR future. Mushrooms are the future.
Below a few photos of our last foray and a FREE color DOWNLOAD to enjoy with your little ones!  Come back soon- for a coloring sheet and more mushroom art - OF course! 


With Love
​g

Fall Foray you say!?
I know- it's early but it's on my mind because I was asked if I wanted to draw the 40th Anniversary MST Poster! - by the 'Foray Director' himself - how could I refuse?  It's not until September - September 22nd (Storms birthday - another reason I couldn't refuse - hee hee) but it's going to be quite the event and they want to advertise early!  
In Muskoka - the perfect Fungi Setting - I already know it's going to be a beautiful weekend.

Storm has attended past weekend Cain Forays & shared they are incredibly enjoyable & informative, nice to be amongst fellow Fungi aficionados!  This year celebrating the 40th Cain Foray - I've no doubts it will be an event to top all others.   The MST is educating the masses on Mushrooms - they had a special event at the ROM, educational material printed and promoted, many members have young children and understand the serious RISKS posed when Children are NOT taught about finding wild edible/poisonous  mushrooms - many which LOOK similar to what they recognize in the grocery stores.  *Too MANY Adults are equally as uninformed.  If you are not positive- don't pop it in your mouth.   

The Mycological Society of Toronto holds weekly Forays in the spring & fall, this weekend was the official first! They have special themed meals, monthly meetings with informative guests, mycologists, authors, illustrators & artists, photographers, chefs,  fungi farmers and MORE!  Want to experience a NEW Hobby? One that feeds your tummy & soul?  Grab our basket, Mushroom knife - sketch book and get ready- Foray Season is here!!
Spring Foray Season that it!  Can you smell the morel?

I've been inspired to create another FREE color download - One to have fun with your little backyard mushroom hunters - stay tooned.
​
With Love
G

​Past Posters..

Please Read.
It's good for your brain & you learn something every time, your vocabulary increases and YOUR imagination takes charge! Unlike Television your OWN mind creates the visions in our brains and it is a WORK OUT. USE it or LOSE it. I'm going to encourage reading.  I'll admit- my imagination did visualize parts of this book which were... incredibly SAD.  
At the end of the world.  By Lawrence Millman

Storm picked up this book at one of the Mycological Society meetings, the Author was there- I wished I had gone! I glanced at the book on his desk read the inside jacket and thought .. hmmm - this sounds really interesting- wow & realized it is a true story- as it implies on the cover Georgia.. duh.

I could NOT put this short, informative book down- I loved everything about it - including the style! I've already said to Storm - I'm getting another of his books! If you want to read a really - simple, gripping, hard to believe story-  over  feathering religion -how interesting - why do we allow each other do what we do?  The Author writes it  at the same time 9/11 happens - it is easy to understand why even at this TIME - the Inuit people struggle with what happened with the REST of the world.
 
What Canadian youngster - does NOT remember Nonook of the North? It was mandatory for every grade school class at one point- lol - I still can hear the narrators voice in my head.. Nanook (you'll learn few things * TRUE Inuit words!) Mushrooms & MURDER..  one of the first ever 'documentaries'.   This was IMO a terrific book full of facts, trivia and relatable events NOW, one moment I'd be snickering at  relatable google frustrations, the next in shock at what I learned, in particular with our own Canadian Government. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4kOIzMqso0  :   Watch Nanook of the North on YOU TUBE

A book a month - I'll read & share!  
What are you reading? Use it or  Lose it.

With love
​G