Spring is in 10 days!  The snow is melting and soon mushrooms will sprout - mmmm can't wait for some fresh pan friend buttered Dysart saddle.  I'm goingto search for lionsmane this year - I know it's on the property I can smell it... & oyster mushrooms, I found some last year but they were  already drying.

The birds are returning!  Norm built  3 new feeders I sketched: an apple, orange & stale bread feeder which have already got the attention from the existing woodpeckers & nuthatches.  Spring - new life. New Growth.  A lesson taught to us by mother nature year after year.. keep going - it's a new day, new time.. a fresh start to this years adventures.

Soon I'll have  tiny plants on the patio!
Birds & bees, dragonflies.. bears are all about to wake up.  
Norms never experienced 'Spring' here, yet...  he's just as excited as I am.
Have a creative day  don't forget to feed our feathered friends.
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Happy March!  Spring happens - in March! LOL
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Creation runs in the family!  ;)
Norm’s created for me a couple of gifts,  every occasion or holiday who needs bonbons my hubby made me an end table & coffee table... from trees in the backyard, family heirlooms.   He made our last coffee table - which fit nice when we had a house that was bigger, dogs need room to lay around - he made a much smaller  yet very functional coffee table. 
How cool is it to have your own furniture maker?  Very.  
I tell him what I want & he creates it - holy cow.  

We still have disagreements and some days & some are  draining, I can hear most every married couple saying the same thing- this covid is the 'test of time'. Norm has had some issues with covid  & not working - he’s worked every day  most his life & for his own mental health it's good to keep busy... it takes time to adjust.  I'm grateful it seems to all be settling down.  I guess we all have a new 'Norm -al. hee hee
 
Marriage & work relationships, friendships, family  - it's all work to some degree.
Part of the journey.  I think the new tables are perfect. 
In between wooden creations he's become quite the baker & cook  :) there have, without a doubt - been positive sides to covid lockdowns.

Have a creative day.

How much wood would a wood chuck chuck…. 
I don’t know ask Norm - lol  - Look at our lovely wood cart!  Our house is a bungalow, heated with a lovely wood stove. The stuff we have learned about wood is amusing - and how much wood we need per day- our new cart lasts 2 days - unless it’a a -30  or more- then it might be 2 carts.

It took one year of thought.  It has wheels so we simply wheel it out to the porch when empty and back in when full - super light & easy to move. It holds our cooking tools - we heat most left overs on the wood stove, it also has the cleaning tools we use most - handy dandy.  The top was made from an old cedar door we had - as well as our outdoor coffee table! Reduce & reuse & recycle.  

One side holds kindling/fire starters the other  logs to last a couple of hours. 
On an average day no matter the temperature outside - I get the stove cranked!- Therefore we open the windows & bring in fresh air  - god for the mind & body.  It took a year of learning how we use our stove to create the most efficient cart - if only we had the luxury of time to 'research' all things...
Many of us do have more time, what are you creating? 

The next cart will be a bit fancier- it will have a top with a raw edge like my new coffee table & end table!  He’s so handy - what a creative team we be. Thank God.
It’s made our life easier & our home lovelier ;).   Inspired by love we will not fail.

This spring we start trails, Norm will stock more wood for the winters to come - living here, with a wood stove it needs to be a regular chore- CHOP wood & carry water. Thankful to do so - EVERY DAY!  Time to LOG off so I can LOG on’ and open the windows on this gorgeous day!

       I have some canvas- sketched on or painted that I use when I just want to 'experiment'..
this canvas was one, first it was ALL sun & sky... the I added the snow & trees, something was STILL missing. lol   Arrow.   This is what I see - as Arrow sits on the deck and watches... everything.

After my last blog Norm went out to get grocories & got stuck on the road just off the driveway, due to poor plowing build up, no biggy.. he's no stranger to shoveling snow & knows how to drive in Canadian Winters  BUT the neighbour drove by as Norm was digging out & actually stopped  JUST to be sarcastic and then continued on 'without helping Norm.  Wow.  I was grateful - I needed that reminder!  The reminder that 'IF' Norm was to see anyone stuck on this road he would be one out there with his shovel - anyone who knows Norm - or me, knows this to be true.  ​I was also reminded of the few time others have helped,  like the kid that moved a log off my driveway that sat there for days, the neighbour clearly saw that too.  

I am learning much from my neighbours, during a deadly pandemic and we are reminded to  be kind,  be there for  each other  'for our neighbours'.  God knows...  God sees.
I thanked Norm..  yes, I guess it is the pandemic causing us to be more stressed & grumpy than usual  & we are concerned about Storm, of course.  The USA and thoughts of civil war.. Doug Ford- tells us "it's really scary but lets wait a few days more" - then - yes this is how it is but let's wait a few more days... is it or isn't it Doug?    
Holy talk about mixed messages.  There is much to ponder during the pandemic- good thing we are locked down & have much time to sort stuff out.

About Masks, Rick Warren nail it for me:
“Some churches are willing to gamble the health of their people. I’m not,”  Warren said, adding, “I don’t want to be a superspreader. I’m not doing this out of fear; I’m doing this out of love. You wear a mask for love [of] your neighbors, yourself.”
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Vaccines.. frig- some are really worried and believe they will be safe when they get the vaccine & they MUST go to work...  give it to them first,  do what ever it takes to ease peoples stress.  I think ALL hospital staff, Dr.s then teachers & kids should be vaccinated first - if it will help slow the spread of so many dead. IF they choose.
 Give it to who actually does want it! Yes, there is much to be reminded of these days, above all else I am reminded of who   God expects me to be.

Thank you neighbour for reminding me: 
Norm would have dug our neighbour out in a heart beat,  I was grateful & cut Norm some slack, he also likes doing the dishes, looks after all the animals , chopping trees and cutting out my stuff in between, building a shop,  baking fresh bagels, gets all out groceries and stuff & everything else..   ​I am thankful for him.  
I know still - if anyone  gets stuck,  still...  he will be there - shovel in hand.

Amen.

I’m resetting! Detoxing too.
Time to reset, less time on the phone,  I’ll check it when messages arrive only - other than that it’s  on a side table where I can’t see - or focus on it. 
I’ve only got a bit of bud & am NOT replenishing it -right away.. if I have it  - I’ll smoke it- so Time to cleanse my body & mind from all for a few weeks at least.  No mushroom medicine - this is o.k. too - as I don't  seem to 'CRAVE it',   it’s more of a thoughtful process & I’m good for a bit. Yes, I have discovered the best possible thing for my mental health - creating.  Painting.  

Creating- it’s the only time to  become absorbed in what I am doing and feel free! 
Free from all the stress of today and tomorrow.. concerned with covid bullshit mostly, has drained me & enhanced' - escalated my twitch, which is at an all time active high (not fun).  I understand I have very little control over it' - and others.  Here I’m content- thriving in solitude - happy even, yes, I prefer it.   Norm not so much,  he’s feeling frustrated because he can’t go out and mingle’… this is causing problems and frustration,  it also has me wondering  if Norm will ever be content here, there, anywhere..  
& I don’t care.

I thought I made it clear before 'we' moved here, there would be changes… or don’t join me.  I guess I didn’t make it clear enough,  one year didn’t do it.  That or he just lied to me & himself.    I don’t think it’s covid he has been miserable,  long before covid.
I don't care,  when I log off '  I will focus on art, music, dogs & God.  
Make yourself happy.. life goes too quick - even in lockdown.  
I am content, blessed even  - in Gods grace. 
Learning  daily how to keep myself happy & loved - remaining in God company… 
no one else is needed.

Anxious to see FUNGI peeking through the snow - I painted some.
Created to create- I have a gift - to create my own happiness & I AM.
​Psssst.... I'm pretty sure - you ALSO have this gift!  God told me.
​Go create.

Happy Saturday!

    Yesterday was Norms birthday!  He worked on his shop - best birthday gift EVER .. lol
He’s 60 & he’s in great shape - it’s from all this hard farm work!  Birthing goats & chasing chickens has kept him fit as a fiddle… lol - more like building coops, barns. a shop, chopping down trees- yeah!  Norm won’t ever look at wood the same again. We were going to celebrate later in the evening with movie & I was making dinner but then… I had some sense knocked into me.   Literally.

I am forever telling Norm & HAVE even blogged about it - one reason many people fall in their homes is…. their dogs.  I have 5 who love me and follow me  everywhere, as you know.  I was painting in my studio, standing.. music - deep in deer snow- and I turned to get paint - turned back and Arrow was at my feet and down I went.   I protect my hands because I know they’ll break so I did not use them, instead I used my head to stop my fall - it bounced off the metal track - between my studio & house.  
I could not google  'concussion symptoms'...   it hurt that bad.
Serious dog training happening - RED tape lines they CANNOT cross - like the kitchen.
I’ll also add my girls freaked out,  they knew I was not joking and were all trying to help me up… Norm arrived a few moments later. 

Not much else happened last night, quiet, bed and today OUCH.  No concussion symptoms, Thank God. Yes, I think I actually  needed to have sense knocked into me - on a few issues- I was hurt enough to wonder if I was gonna die - for a few seconds.  I called Storm to tell him I love him.  Went to bed in pain and did not sleep…  I did talk to Jesus & have had quite a bit of clarification..   a nice calm has consumed me.   ;)  Actually grateful for the fright.

 Although sore to touch, even raise my eyebrows- I am absolutely clearer headed on several issues, humans and STRONGER than I was yesterday. AMEN.
I woke today and thanked God for it & said "o.k.! Let's prove it Jesus!"  lol    Wait & see.

I painted this deer for this stranger  “Ted” I met once  at the feed store in Halliburton (Phil is a great guy & very helpful  if you need seed/feed/animal stuff) I gave Ted my number because he said it was nice to have someone enjoy his photos.   This past year he has shared many beautiful photos of deer, flowers, butterflies, pine weasels, turkeys, amazing chickadees  and always a kind word or take care… thats’ it.  
I realized.. this stranger has absolutely been a positive light in 2020, and I wanted to say Thank you.  I’m pleased how it turned out,  inspired by a photo he sent,  playing with light & snow.

I realized we (me included) rarely ponder some people who are kind & thoughtful yet become ‘thought obsessed’  dwelling on others - who don’t even have the kindness in them to stop & say "hello" or even offer a smile - let alone kind word... 
Worse, we waste our thoughts & precious time on intentionally nasty people - robbing ourselves of  time & joy we could be thinking of the kind people we do have around us. Focus on Love, light Kindness…  I shall.
Let the Universe...    God, focus on the rest.

My head/mind needed the  alignment.
I needed to go & spend time with Jesus in prayer, thought, love.  

Excited to start the next painting!
​G

It's Storms birthday & the first day of fall (summer offically ends this morning at: 9:30a.m.) YAY!  Storm visited on the weekend!  I love FALL & Storm. 
Storm is an essential worker during covid - thank God, continuing to provide thousands with pain medicine/relief  mental & physical during an exceptionally stressful time, as covid number continue to climb & winter is now only a season away.  I'm so grateful he visited.  
I know how busy he (they) are all.   Growing massive cannabis gardens is team work with no holidays - farming.  Plants need constant attention - or you won't get the desired results. 

Storm visits and he becomes  his dads essential worker! lol  
Norm's built his shop to date, completely on his own and I can tell you it's IMPRESSIVE.  He was thrilled when Storm arrived too - for several reasons.. lol   These two are two of the hardest working men I know & I am proud & grateful for them both.
Times flies.  

I am starting to realize - all the BLESSINGS covid has brought.  How about you?
Time with my son & husband even more precious. These two are my inspiration & bring me joy each day, yes we have our 'moments'... all families do.  
Each 'moment' a little learning lesson. I am grateful for every second. 
My son is a gift from God, (all children are) the past 28 years have been by far the best in my life. I look forward to every visit, everyday, every text.     ;)  

Arrow immediately bonded with Storm, of course.  
Our family grows in size & LOVE - daily.  
Amen.

Hug your son! Pat your dogs!
GET outside & enjoy this fantastic fall day!
I got a goat to paint. 

With THC & TLC
​Georgia