One of the most interesting things about picture books is the story behind the books — where the seeds of ideas came from and how they grew. As promised, I am posting about how my new book, Same, Same but Different came to be. I hope it gives you some good book-energy and that hearing [...]

I want to thank everyone for visiting our new chai site/blog! It’s really sweet to share our love for these cultures in this way. In case you didn’t stumble upon it, check out the map I made of our route. If you click on all the stars, images and even a video of a Baul [...]

Hi my friends! I am really excited to share that we launched chaipilgrimage.com! YEAH! For those of you who don’t know, a couple years ago, Patrick and I got this fun idea to collaborate on a book combining three things we love so much: India, Nepal and chai. I know it sounds kinda funny, but [...]

Gosh! It seems like everything has come alive in the last few weeks–both in the garden and in our community. So many gatherings with friends, hikes, picnics, campfires. It’s so beautiful and feels so good! Yesterday morning, I moved my yoga practice outside, and had a really nice sunrise session with two friends on a [...]

It was fun to read all the comments on the eject post-it-note post. Seems like some of you have been in that same place before, and others are maybe standing there present moment. A friend (who is maybe standing some place in between, or rather staring at her eject button from a distance but not [...]

I took my Nepali language book off the shelf yesterday just for fun and to remind myself of what I know (somewhere deep in the back of my brain). When I opened it, I found this inside: If case you can’t tell, that’s a post-it note with a drawing of an eject button on it. [...]

Today is Kukur Pooja–A day to honor your dog! (Thanks for reminding me, Surya) In Nepal, they give dogs special tika (blessing with red powder on 3rd eye), a garland of marigolds (see Oso the dog to your left), and of course, special sweet treats. SO! celebrate kukur pooja today and take your pooch for [...]

42 x 28 inches, mixed media on canvas This is a new piece I did last week. It’s less abstract obviously, but I like it. I thought a lot about places I traveled to in India and dreams I’ve had. It’s much different than after the first day I worked on it. It seemed too [...]

I LOVE color. I mean, who doesn’t? I still remember the first time I saw just how much color was in shadows, in a face, or in clouds. Sometimes I have no idea what I’m doing with it, but I always know when it feels ‘just right’. I love layering transparent colors to create new [...]

“It was after 62 yrs that the Kathmandu valley welcomed snow…” –an excerpt from an email i received last week (feb 07) from Surya, my friend and former student at Sunshine School in Bhaktapur, Nepal where he now teaches “There weren’t any prejudgements–they say it was due to the western wind from Pakistan that embraced [...]