Storm called & said he was 'taking me out for lunch on Tuesday' since he was too busy the past week to visit on my birthday  (which I am well aware of - hello cannabis in Canada!)  I thought we were gong to visit our favourite breakfast spot- and perhaps tour around town but I was mistaken.. back to the city we went and to Ripley's Aquarium we went!  *BUT  - lol when we arrived- & were in the lobby waiting to enter - and looked down into the SEA of children- he said: "I'm so sorry mom, I did not know it's March break"  LOL - OMgosh you had no idea!  The children- Cowabunga! Once  in- we were fine- if anything the kids were a constant source of amusement 

Shark! Shark!! Screaming from all directions and you look up and there it is swimming overhead, soon after you hear Stingray! Turtle! Starfish!!   They have made it fun for little humans - there is a tunnel to crawl through as sharks swim around- I could not convince Storm to crawl through - It took no convincing though as he waited to touch the crustacean that looked like a pokeman- back in the day.  We searched high & low to see the octopus in his tank only to realize he was right beside my head on the wall. Best of all I got exactly what I wanted: underwater photos, at one point we were just standing there, no one else and the diver appeared - he waved hello as he fed the Stingray- talk about perfect timing- it was like front row private show - I can hardly contain my new excitement today to get at my canvas!  It did not end there - he then took me to Pusateri's to pick up all the ingredients for an incredible  meal (he cooked) of Oprah chicken & mashed truffle potatoes, arrival salad with strawberries, balsamic vinaigrette, old cheddar- I got to sit at the table and drink, smoke,chat, laugh & chill as he did all the work (just us two) it was perfect.  Gifts too! lol

A new golden Octopus dish to hold todays daily bud- my current FAV #Aloha Storm calls it also grown by him was also a gift - (it's fantastic) and some edibles. looking at it today I smiled- who knew my son would be giving his mom some of the best grown cannabis in Canada for her 55 birthday & she'd be thrilled- who knew?

I see Treating Yourself magazine is back up the WWW. Storms story is available for DL of you have not read it in Issue 29. Along with countless information , read back issues, see many of  my older cartoon & Ivan Arts & more! Check it out...

A thought we had yesterday... & measles.  All it took was one look yesterday (during March break) to understand the importance of having your children vaccinated agains measles.  Vaccines are frightening especially when there are fears of potential issues caused by them- more frightening would be an outbreak of measles and all those children who would become very sick... all it took was the realization yesterday of how fast & serious an outbreak would be.

I hurt 'my jaw' last week - seriously enough I'm having difficulty eating & speaking but you would never know it by the smile on my face yesterday - Storm noticed my a weight loss already & did his best to fatten me up a bit- successfully I might add. My arthritis too has been an issue lately - I am sore today after all that walking - it's time to medicate & get busy painting my new UNDERSEA adventure *there were far too many children to vape yesterday, we did before & after in the parking garage - all was good. Please show respect when children/others are around. 
The photos below - you might not think are great - they are exactly what I was looking for!

Next Yoda. 
 With TLC & THC 
​Georgia 

I named my studio long ago 'RoseElm' studio Alexa informed me this morning it was "Rose Monday" in preparation for Ash Wednesday (& Georgia day! Hee hee).   A studio where I have a fountain of ideas! I've recently discovered the fountain pen - again. We've all tried one chances are, my first over 20 year ago when I won a pen from a bar in Aurora - a blue waterman fountain pen- which I just found yesterday & cleaned (now that I know how) & am anxiously awaiting new ink refills to give it a swirl or two.  Fingers crossed it still works!  I recently was gifted the green pen by Norm after I asked for  fountain pen & ink.. it arrived the next day and I've hardly put it down.  I've been reading about them because they 'easily   glide over the paper' - no pressure needed- the pen does it on it's own so it FEELS lovely resting in my hand & no pressure - no pain.  Typing today hurts.  No grip needed - fantastic for loose messy sketches which are inspirations on their own.  

I had no idea the craftsmanship that goes into some pens & yesterday  a pen took my breath away - lol , much like I guess a diamond ring or that luxury drive for others this pen was it for me & a BIRD!  No doubts it must cost the same as a  luxury vehicle, I first spied it on IG on a private collectors page - only 40 created! (age of the King) - who I messaged because I could not resist - "Does anyone ask can I touch your pen?"  because this made me giggle, the response was " ..yes and often"  & they do let people touch it as long as they wear gloves! I know the next response  so I needn't ask  Could I draw with your pen!!?  lol  (by the way - I can not 'guess' if the page belonged to a man or woman - which I admire)  It will also never be used! A tear rolled down my cheek for the pen (in my mind) hee hee - I would - I would NOT be able to resist it! Just look at this masterpiece  to see what I'm talking about.  I'm hooked I have 2 pens- so yes, It's the start of my collection.  hee hee  It's good to have goals!! 

Intoxicating is the feel.. I'm going to return soon, I've started a:  I love my homeboy (Jesus) sketchbook, when ever I draw Jesus I find myself feeling fine, smiling on the inside & out. Draw what you love.  I was also sent a card with tulips  (my favourite) from someone who's trying.  I said to Storm not long ago, about I can't even remember whom:
At least he's trying  because many don't.
A million reasons, a million excuses for not even trying.    TRY.  
Sure, I'd LOVE this pen - I will try to get it.. not by stealing it either- lol.. buy becoming a better artist & person...  YOU never know what tomorrow may bring!  
I also want a little girl from Yemen - because anything I can do has got to be better than that! Please Jesus - help me help. 

Check out this  week:

Rose Monday
Pancake Tuesday 
Ash Wednesday (& me -55 still alive! woot woot!)
Thursday is 'Be heard day' - Great for the small dispensaries about to open! :D
Friday is international Women's day!  #Balance for Better. 2019  
I could not have hoped for a better week to celebrate - life. 
Time to get drawing, painting and praising! How about you?  

*other ideas keep  pouring out this fountain  before I can finish that bottle of RUM.. wait until you see the "baby steps sloth" nice & slow..  - coming soon.
​With TLC & THC 
​
What are your goals?  Make some! It's good to have goals.

I finished this orange/gold glistening octopus on a foray under the ocean! 
I was watching 'Tales By light' on Netflix  it's wonderful - visually stunning & educational, the episodes on the working children leaves me speechless but the episode on coral - was mesmerizing. Watching the coral I kept thinking over and over - they look just like mushrooms! All the'coral' you see here are actually images of mushrooms I painted - only one is obvious.  It's big, bright & makes me smile.  I keep mentioning my drunken Octopus- but it's eluded my paint brushes for some reason... it will be finished soon.

Did you VOTE? I like Shaun Tanaka - Team Trudeau - our York representative... how refreshing & hopeful - she strikes me as very intelligent & optimistic. 

Netflix has a show I am really enjoying with some very strong women - it's very Canadian & I highly recommend it for new moms especially, it's filmed in and around Toronto which is also fun - I find it very intelligent, funny, realistic & the women are fantastic:  CBC -  Working Moms - the scene with the bear- lol   I can see that happening so easy here.  With this weather, warnings to stay indoors - twist my arm - it's nice to have something entertaining and fun to watch.  

Shout out to York regions finest! Boy oh boy I realized I speak my mind... the other day I was in a parking lot walking towards my trusty steed and this tall, incredibly handsome  gentleman in a bright orange vest said "Hello!" to me as I started walking in his direction - I took one look and replied "HELLO, Handsome!" & 'beelined' right for him - hee hee hee!   Holy cow was he good looking... & I think he was slightly a ginger too- that smile tho - anyway I realized he was one of York Regions finest (pun intended)  when I noted his police uniform  under the vest... & we had a quick little chat & I left by stating:  
Bye handsome, if I'm ever arrested I hope it's by you!"  To which he laughed and  we parted.
#notdead  #notblind #appreciativeofbeautymaleandfemale   We use to have a police officer who looked exactly like Richard Gere years ago (who is still handsome at 69 & going to run for congress...  - I use to like to wave & yell: Hi Richard!!  
He knew why I called him it. lol  

So many paintings so little time..  back to it.

with TLC & THC
​Georgia

I wish this fox could be seen in real life- it POPs off the paper - I'm pleased with how it turned out as I had no intentions of painting a fox when I sat at my desk.  This painting  was started at approx. 6 a.m. and I finished it at  1:30 with only short leg stretches (peanuts in the feeder) and coffee & snacks.. I'm sure since I post them daily people think I 'whip them off' I assure you, that's not the case.  lol  I realize this because Ginger is at that age - "come play with mom!!" & I find it a little annoying when she interrupts me all the time and must remind "US" - spring will be here soon & I can take them outside & let this one run off steam - she's bored & I have NOT walked her once this winter, I  don't go out when there is ice on the sidewalks  with constant balance issues - it's not FUN or worth a broken hip or bone.  Interruptions come in many forms as it is - and I LIMIT them. No e mail, I don't own a phone so no texts  interrupting me, no TV when painting - it's usually music. Canvas - only music.

Why do I try to share daily? To inspire...   keep going. Keep going. KEEP GOING.
& I am grateful that several over the years have e mailed me who read this blog to say just that -  so .. it's the least I can do & the best I can do - too!

Not only will 'you' become better at anything you practice daily but your mind will thank you for it.  Depression is at an all time high across the world - I GET IT. The thing is - I'm not depressed - I feel pretty darn happy most days - other than short bursts of frustration with Norm,  I go around here singing & dancing with my girls in between works of heart.  
All it takes to change this mood is to focus on the 'news for too long... so, I don't.
It's why you see an increase in art...  forcing myself to focus on creation instead of destruction - for that there seems no lack of.  

What will you force yourself to FOCUS on today? A line from "How to change your mind"...  Who controls your cranium!?   Hee hee -  Hopefully you can say: ME! 
Control your cranium! That's exactly what I'm about to do with a cannabis joint before I start this NEW day on a new adventure in painting....  take control of my cranium before I play with my octopus.   lol  sounds kinda kinky. 

** I recently have been receiving e mail from what appears to be 'Rogers'  our main service provider here in Ontario anyway - providing a link WARNING me IF I do not go & re-address my information my rogers account - my e mail will stop coming  & yes, it appears official, the sender is a rogers e mail address as well, anyway - I contacted Rogers directly & have been assured  IT IS A SCAM: 

"I can confirm that this message that you have received is not coming 
from us.  Due to an increase in the amount of spam messages being sent 
to customers we have developed a way for customers to report these types
of communications.  If you still have the e-mail please forward it to 
abuse@rogers.com for internal investigation and blocking.  Lastly. if 
you are looking to block an e-mail address from sending you messages you
can generally do so through the junk e-mail settings directly on your 
e-mail account."  

BEFORE you send any information - contact the company directly and just ASK
 "is this for real?"   the few moments you can NOW ​could save you a lot of headache later.

Have a creative day!
NEXT - another octopus - an alcoholic octopus! 

With TLC & THC
G

...progress on the canvas below.

I started  new painting! (forgot to show you yesterday)   ^  this is it!  
It's already progressed some since this photo, I was 'lost' last night painting it - thank GOD.  When everything becomes overwhelming there is no better escape (for me) than to go paint & in particular a canvas with acrylic is  more difficult/challenging than working at my desk with gouache - after painting this background & I started painting something new - there was a point that I thought- what have I just done!?  lol  I know many artists have this feeling when painting.. but you keep going and then you get to the 'next stage I am currently at & you CAN'T wait to get back painting at it as soon as possible...   it's an octopus in case you're wondering  on an adventure at the bottom of the sea... with a twist (of course). 

I've read about the new dispensaries opening in April, so far I liked the 'names' of a couple..  I believe one is called "The Honey Pot"  (neat play on words), how exciting  is cannabis in Canada now?  I also saw a mural painted in a new vape lounge in Aurora opening soon no doubts - I do not know the logistics around this sort of thing- I'm sure it is  still to be worked out but definitely something you're going to see popping up ALL OVER. One future dispensaries location is in 'Yorkville' in Toronto-  for those not aware hearing  this instantly brings $$$$$ to mind. If it's in Yorkville - you'll be paying top dollars for that budding experience...  & this is how it's meant to be.  There will be something for everyone - just like there's a choice from  McDonalds to a fine 5 star restaurant - if you got it,  you should be able to choose where you spend it, no?  
​& just like the two extremes - I'm excited to see & hopefully sample the many DIFFERENT experiences available to us soon.  NOW, as soon as we get this marketing bullshit out of the way- I KNOW there has to be a big company out there ready to take this to court- it's discrimination.  That or they will just wait- because common sense & $$$ will tell us - it's time.   If you're worried about your children & cannabis - SPEAK to them. Education is key, no lies please.. 

The only advice I'd offer someone younger regarding cannabis (because I know it's safer than alcohol) is:  Please do not drive or do anything until you know how cannabis effects you & this is NOT because of cannabis impairment' but because there are many already impaired drivers on the road to contend with - impaired by alcohol, cell phones & I've been researching - one of the worst problems on the road  right NOW is (an not on the road) LACK OF SLEEP!    ​How are we going to  address that problem?
Other than that - I would encourage cannabis over alcohol & other drugs, especially opiates - YES, many still like opiates to get HIGH (it's still problem - one that kills).  Only 29 days to spring and not long after that - you can celebrate by visiting a dispensary.
Excited?   I am.

With TLC & THC
​Georgia

 It's Raining and with rain come mushrooms!
Todays warm up is an accidental octopus mycologist. 
Octopus are a great mental workout for me & challenge as I like to include all 8 legs.
Warm up the brain, the hands and the gouache paint.

I can't even begin to explain how I feel about the most recent school shooting in the USA
it's as if 'it's no big news thing' any longer. Expected even.  

Next weekend is the LIFT expo in Toronto, I've been contacted by a few to see if I'm attending so 'I might.  It's always a wonderful opportunity to see a few faces I don't regularly get to see... a friend mentioned  some 'activists'  are saying  'if you attend you're considered a traitor' which made me LOL  - Traitor?  Staying educated  is more the direction I was going.  Cannabis will be legal very soon and many large LPS will be opening their doors. - it's part of the process...  isn't this what everyone wanted only 10, 5 years ago. Legalization. Will you enter one of the gov. pot shops? I will to SEE. BUT not to buy.  I'll stick with my current grower - he is producing superior product.  What will happen if someone wants to return product?  My friend said he's going to buy it'  just to return it. hee hee hee.

I have had a 'bad bottle' of wine before... I have friends who wok at he LCBO and they told me people return wine.. that tastes off'. How will they handle this? I think it's sad we won't get to experience Cannabis as I did in California for example..  we won't get to see  it up close or smell from my understanding-  time will tell and it won't be long NOW.
Many will buy from them - just out of novelty.   Interesting times for sure!

It is a long weekend here in Ontario & it's overcast, drizzle and cool- who cares it's just nice to get out and putter.  Time to get out in the garden, plant & paint.

With TLC & THC
Georgia
​

​Creatively 
g

You should see this beast in real life.. 15 inches of green goodness!!
Where does he begin? Bong or blunt? Roll me another you handy fellow!
8 legs, count em - all busy .

He will hang in my office for a while...   until the next octopus emerges and I've already one on my mind.

He was very enjoyable, lost in legs was I.
I think he might make a fun postcard what do you think?

With Love
g
<><
​

This octopus is a work in progress- just like me. Us. 
His tangled legs force me to focus as they twist and get lost in each other..
You will like him- He is very cannabis friendly.

 I've discovered,  I paint octopus when I'm dealing with something I really need to process.

On my mind..   California.  
I KNOW why I was to go.  A test to myself. 
Sitting on the beach, long walks with Poppy & a lot of alone time.
Painting time. I felt physically better. It was not just the weather. 
It was many things, I didn't do much or  go many places.  My friend was a vegetarian so in many cases that's what I had also & have to say I've not had meat since. Really! I've no desire for it.  As you might imagine I'm cooking without it - so all around everyone is eating less meat or they don't eat- or get takeout.  Not my problem.  Less Pig  for sure.
I'm looking after myself  and cook what I feel is best for this bod & mind. 
I am not saying I won't eat meat again, I will saver the experience' and not just eat it to eat it
-  a beast had to die for it.
 
A new CALM appears to have kicked in..  thank you California.
I'm giving all I have to think about to what I do want.  Calm, Love, Peace.
​I know exactly what I need.  I've thought about it for  years.
Bring it on!   I work for it...   isn't anything worth having even better if you work for it?

                  My body is a temple.. not suitable for poison in any form.
                                               Plant, animal, chemical or human.  

Since home & medicating properly I'm noticing a huge improvement again back to focusing and painting. I have had much time to process my  California experience.  It appears my friend I visited is no longer communicating with me.. he was disappointed and verbally expressed this to me a couple of days after my arrival - it wasn't going as he expected.  Too bad. Even though honourable intentions were expressed before the vacation things changed, so did the dynamics of my vacation- but this was o.k.- it forced me and Poppy to have a lot of alone time - thinking and crab watching.
I was upset at the time but later I laughed with Storm and said "what can I say -Your  Mama is just too damn desirable!!"  

Boundaries were made clear before I even left. It went as I expected. I had no misconceptions of what my vacation was going to be - a vacation.  Cest la vie- I've made several attempts to continue our friendship.  Do I feel bad - no.   I've done nothing wrong.  I'm not making any apologies for others behaviours any longer.
It's sad though.. a friend lost- why- a hurt EGO.  Men.  
Arrrrrgh. What ever, I walk away - held held HIGH. 

My body is a temple, I have no intentions/need of  being  'intimate' just for the sake of a F*ck.  At the age of 53 - it's nice to be strong enough not to cave to OTHERS desires if I'm not feeling them myself.  How many times do women in particular do this?  Too many.
​
The dogs missed me & Bird had me concerned... he really missed me.  
Next vacation I might smuggle him with me!  lol  Joking. 
Next vacation - I am going  alone... I made up my mind.
Not one single  thing to worry about but me... up in the mountains on a peaceful county side.  

From this day forward Everything  that goes into this body will be deserving.
Just as I AM.  

What will you place in your body today?  Is it good For YOU? Mentally & physically?
Will it nourish or just fill you up with junk that will only make you ill in the long run.
Think about it - with every nibble.


With Love
​g

​Back to this tangled green Cananbis love.