Edible Mushrooms!  Covid has taught me to become more self sufficiant.. especially after a trip to the grocory store and noticing a lack' of certain items & noticing what I MISSED when I could not  run out for a few things.  I missed fresh mushrooms - we eat them often.
Lately, I feel so blessed it almost confuses me.  I think I'll go search for a trillium and there it was - off the driveway.  

I mentioned to Norm 'I want to find some edible mushrooms' - walked again, down my driveway and spied all these new mushrooms that had appeared, encouraged by 2 days of rain - I sent Storm a photo (former Foray director for the MST)  he replied:
Dryad's Saddle- Edible
OH MY! A basket full- right off my driveway!
Not 10 minutes later, sizzling in a pan with butter & were absolutely delicious! 
Google Dryad's Saddle - or Pheasant Back Mushroom on how to find, prepare & save for later, dried.  Now is the time to go looking!  The youtube I watched suggested the tastiest are no bigger than the palm of you hand - yes, tasty they are.
Food- provided by nature.  Amen.
I also put another intention out to the universe recently &  that DREAM too is coming true! It's a big deal (to me) - so I'll save it for another day!

It's a difficult time to feel blessed...  covid, death, cancelations & NOW images from the USA  are difficult to see &  KNOW, what they are dealing with - I GET it!  
When is it going to stop? IF this is what it takes - this is what it takes.
I get it and agree with the protesters... clearly, NO one is doing anything about black people being killed for NO REASON. George Floyd was murdered - tortured in front of many in broad daylight on the street- by police.  The two rednecks in Georgia- that killed the jogger 

Perhaps 'an eye for an eye'...    will be the only way people will start to SEE.

Tying to figure out how to address  feeling  anger & frustration & feeling blessed at the same time...  The solution for me is to try to paint,  paint and go out in my beautiful backyard to witness all Gods blessings & pray for better days.  
​Prayer changes things- believe it or not.

Good luck if your going to go out & hunt for some Dryad's Saddle, mines going in an omelette next!  I'm also slicing and drying for a later date. 
I'm making these mushroom art finds' & including maps on the back so next year I'll know where to look .. lol
 I don't think I'll forget that these grow right off my driveway.   Blessed.

With TLC & THC
​me

This pup= a gift from above!  It's been just a couple of weeks and this baby has stolen ALL our hearts already. Having an infant human is of course the best gift in the universe (imo) - those days are done for me- (hee hee - thankfully) but I still love babies & this puppy is a little miracle in herself!
I have been able to watch her learn how to do everything for the "first time'  it's comical and heart warming...  up and down stairs, eat kibble & bananas, taste REAL meat- which he LOVES - no kidding. Ginger is behaving like she was meant to be here!   I will say the first few days I was slightly concerned- explaining to the guys every time she hears "other dogs bark" she'd run and hide behind pillows or knapsacks or anything- so we focused to make her feel safe, loved and secure.. Now when other Dogs bark she runs for me - if not me- she runs for her big sister Daisy!  She already knows Daisy will protect her. 

If the photo above  upsets you - please don't get a pup! The photos above made me want to JUMP for joy!! lol  This little girl is only a couple of weeks old and is already doing her business on the pads - or outside!  We have no accident in 3 days - Hip Hip Hooray! You need PATIENCE when it comes to a pup! My girls  must get credit too- they are training her for me- when I say outside & they RUN- she follows.  Daisy is teaching her  how to play with toys and is incredibly gentle- it teaches me the nature of animals- the kindness, compassion & love they KNOW how to share.  Poppy teaches Ginger everything else! Play, fighting, drinking, napping etc- because Ginger Looks up to her big sister. I've never seen the tip of Poppies white tail wag like it does now that we have Ginger.

Ginger wakes up - looks at me -as if she realizes every time- "Oh yeah! There's my mom this is my home!"  & she jumps up to my face and gives me kisses - Thank You!!! I hear with each bounce.  Poppy's gets slightly jealous at times- when Ginger wants to take a turn napping on moms lap but I never take Poppy off if she was there first- she is still my special companion, working girl and rockstar... Ginger has to lean respect too.
Now that she KNOWS nothing BUT love- from all of us, is happy, safe, confident, playful & healthy- today the training begins,  since it's so lovely out - Norm & I were just saying today - let's chill, enjoy the sunshine and give 'Ginger her first swimming lesson- only a couple more weeks & the pool will close for another season (already).

I don't understand Humans who say "They are JUST dogs", it saddens me to hear this coming from no less - dog owners.  I know Dog owners who have abused, hurt, neglected and forgotten their dogs.  YOUR dog would save your home & life if capable- many do. Dogs are the BEST security IMO too- we were just informed this morning  by the police - a string of 'break ins' happened in this area on Saturday night.   With  our dogs - just  step on the front lawn (because we don't have  side walk) and our dogs KNOW it and so will everyone else- that is when I do allow them to BARK.  One sleeps by the window at might.  They also bark when someone is at my elderly neighbours front door! Good, she likes it too.  I can tell when by the pool, if someone is in my driveway just by how my dogs bark.
'Just dogs'..  hardly.

I do however understand when people say (& I have several friends who all agree):
The more people they know the more they like dogs.  
Do yourself a favour- consider getting a dog to love - they'll love you right back if you treat them well.  All I really understand is my heart feels empty when I have no dogs in my life (never happen if I can help it) they are our family.  Yesterday Storm invited us for a rooftop BBQ and the whole family went in our new truck, such a comfortable drive. Norm said - "I had to have the crew cab - for the CREW!" I was so please  to se them all happy - they have so much room behind our seats & if we go anywhere we will easily put a 'tub of ice water with them - incase we have to run into a store.. we don't like to do that though if avoidable.
They had a great day up on the roof - Poppy seems to love city life- watching every streetcar and barking at anyone who dares looked up in our direction. I was frightened about he rood top - already the girls don't even go NEAR the edge! They just know.   Daisy loves to be with her boy and Scruffy could care less - about anything. Ginger. Ginger is happy to have her new forever family.
 Pat your dog! Thank them today for all the love they provide. 

With TLC & THC
Georgia 

 Canada Day July 1st, I sat in the gazebo late & listened & watched the fireworks reflect off the pool...  Poppy was on the sofa, I was in a chair with my feet up on a stool,  in the past Tequila suffered greatly during fireworks - shaking violently, crying & cowering- we were relieved when she went deaf letter in life.. as long as she didn't see them she remained calm so I never sat out and 'enjoyed' them in a while.  Fact - the busies days for the SPCA- after fireworks- when TOO many pets go missing from being terrified.

As I listend to the 'weeeeeeeeeeeeee" and POP!!, BANG!! & "Screeeeeeeeeecccccchhhhhh' of the fireworks - I realized how it is for us- In Canada & America they are sounds associated with JOY.  Fireworks = celebration! Party, food, fun with family & friends! YeeeeeeHawwwwww.  
Suddenly one of my CLOSE neighbours let of a POP!! & Poppy flew off the sofa - under the chair at the same time  'DAISY (big baby)  & Scruffy FLEW up an onto my lap!! lol  
I then realized the girls were not enjoying it as much as I was and how frightening the sounds must be for them so we went in - Bird too was trembling in his cage, when normally he's still flying around the room.

It hit me then... these sounds we associate with Joy - Please forgive me Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mexico, Somalia... (and others) my ignorance astounds me sometimes- these noises 'we' associate with Joy- you must only associate with death.  So many innocent people live under constant destruction, bombs and screeching across the night sky.  They don't have hot dogs & burgers, no sparklers or kids in *bouncy tents.. they hardly have clean water to drink.  America is responsible for much of the destruction, drones, bombing of innocence - look at Vietnam.  

When you enjoy your fire works tonight stop & listen.
Try to imagine for only a minute istening to those familiar sounds under different circumstances. The screams not from fireworks but from mothers who lose their babies.
Would you want to stay in these countries? Wouldn't you want the chance at a better life? 
At a LIFE??
I would.

No more fireworks for me, I'm done. A waste of money and they hurt wildlife too - Birds especially - do you know  birds drop out of the sky due to shockwaves, hundreds at a time,   I WAS thrilled to READ WE are stopping - YEAH Canada!
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-banff-ditches-big-bang-canada-day-fireworks-to-protect-wildlife/   Another fine example of leading first! 

This just pissed me off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5gXkERQ8M0 
People 'laughing' as their own dogs go after fireworks- some encouraging them- how fucking careless & STUPID  - what if the dogs face gets blown off you ^%$#&* idiots.  
Don't think it can happen? It does ALL the time. 
https://www.causes.com/causes/121564-against-fireworks-in-lebanon/updates/491597-fireworks-harm-and-kill-animals  
Horses have heart attacks.. WTF  is wrong with us that we continue this selfishness? 

You know why? Because we are NOT in Syria, Mexico or any other war torn country listen to screaming, seeing homes destroyed, babies lying gin the streets, orphans because mom was cooking when the apartment exploded, limbs blow off, death and decay in the streets. Instead we'll have our beer & hotdogs, sparklers and laughs as our pets chase fireworks.

I called it 'As above - So below'  because I feel (regrettably)  that America is causing so much pain it's only a matter of time - before they experience the wrath they put on others and then when theses 'Immigrants"  have nothing they are turned  away or PUT in cages AS we are NOW witnessing...   after they blow up their homes & countries  because of GREED.

By the way- Fireworks  kill and harm many children & adults too.  
Here is a site that will help you prepare to help your animals  tonight if YOU care:
http://www.occupyforanimals.net/fireworks-and-animals.html

YeeeeHaaaaawww.

With TLC & THC
Georgia

* Just learned today - Bouncy towers/castles harm & kill more kids than cannabis. 
                                           WTF is wrong with our priorities. 

This is where I AM going for Christmas.
How about you?  

All I am bringing: Good food, cannabis, clean water, softer music, dogs & bird.
Snuggled all warm by the fire, no cell phones - a book!
iPad for drawing only when I'm tired of painting.
A snuggly blanket,  fire and a deer or two. Deer Not beer.

I leave today...
For the next week, month and possibly into the new year
I will be focusing on painting, reading, nature, dogs.

Limited  internet access.  Limited e mail.
Time to get caught up on conversation with God, nature, the stars, the moon.
Did you see that moon last night?
I just learned the moon never rotates, we always 'see' the same side. 
How did I miss this fact?  
What does the dark side of the moon look like?  
Is the moon hollow?
When is the last time you looked at snowflakes?
Do you like the new or the old Jim Carey?  
I am most curious about the new... as I browse at these delicate, stunning, detailed images of snowflakes.  The artist side of Jim inspires me most.

Tis the season to get caught up in consumerism, be careful.
​Make gifts.
Support individuals still striving to be unique!

Ho ho ho -  Here we go.
Georgia

Storm went to California and he brought me back the coolest thing he could find.
I laughed, it was perfect...   a soft rubber little 'banana slug now sits on my desk guarding my stamps.  I watched short documentary and no they are certainly not like our  slugs or snails.  They crawl through the northerners forest in California- they are a hit there and here we had no clue about them here in Canada - we'll I did not  and neither did Storm.
See how powerful travel can be... hee hee hee

Where to next? 
My imagination is already there.

With Love.
g
xox
<><
​

Bird is free to fly wherever he chooses.. He follows me into the bathroom and when I'm lying down- he will fly in the bedroom, sit on the window ledge & give me a dirty look!  
"Get UP! Come paint and I will sing to you"   he TWEETs. 
He could fly downstairs and has done on a couple of occasions but has not for  along time.  Speaking of Bird & Birds eye view,  I was reminded a few weeks ago
this Frenchman in a helicopter. 

Have you heard of:
Yann Arthus–Bertrand  I think he is an exceptional human. 
He initially peeked my curiosity about France  a couple of years ago.  
I first learned of him with 'HOME,  I highly recommend it.  
What I really enjoyed most was: Earth from Above 
He showed us whats going on wrong in the world and those trying to do what's right..
He showed us HOPE.  ​Elegantly, I might add.
Now I'm watching HUMAN the movie.
I believe every school should show this from grade 1 up, every year.
Please turn off the trash  and consider educating your mind.

The woman who washes bottles for 12 hours a day- this is her life. If all I can do is send her my prayers- it's something.. how does she get up every day?  
He is a real life hero not to mention he is one impressive 71 year old, I would not have guessed, Wikipedia figures' it out for us ;). lol

Making a difference daily, no doubts.
Give Thanks.

g

WE (Poppy & I) LOVE to fly!
I was so frightened.. thinking my head would explode  (honestly)- lol
BUT hey I'm here to paint another day!  By the grace of God!
I am inspired by all I do & see & will never have 'Artist Block'
It's all in your mind. Just ask Brain...  not Heart.

 :)

Buckle up Baby! Yeeeeeeee Haaawwwww!
No matter where they seat us - Poppy & I are:
 First Class!   
Medicated- First Class!

Poppy and I are planning on being away for Christmas!  
No idea where yet...  Positive thinking is the first step in any adventure!
​
With Love
​g
<><
​xox

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.

This is how I feel when Storm arrives home from one of his journeys.
*In real Human life - he would be much taller - but I chose to make it cuter. 
​
I am equally as happy to see him go on theses journeys..
Life is for exploring.

With Love
g

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With love
​g