Just posted another masala chai recipe over at chai pilgrimage. Perfect timing for the Fall/Winter weather. It’s Patrick’s spicy goat milk concoction inspired by his original chai guru’s chai. It’s extra special. He’s even been making me my own “chai-less” batch (everything but the caffeine for me and Baby). You can download and print the card to add to your recipes — just click on the recipe to see Big. YUM!

Two long walks snowshoeing with my dog, yoga, a toasty fire in the woodstove, nourishing meals, a full day of painting, and a night out with my awesome husband and friends. Yup. Heaven on earth.

Fun news! My cardstore is open! Over 50 designs for special occasions, or no occasion at all — AND, more to come. I’ve received samples of my Cardstore designs and am so impressed with the quality and color. They are really beautiful. When you place your order, you have the option to personalize the cards with your own photos and messages and even have them mailed directly to the recipient. OR, you can order cards as blanks to use at the perfect moment.

To celebrate, here is a 20% off coupon, valid thru 1/15/09. Just type in NEWCS at checkout. Also, if you do buy any of my designs, please access my cardstore via any of the links on this post, sidebar/site. (I get a better royalty if you enter from my site! THANKS!)

I hope you find cards that make you smile. Spread them around to all your family and friends!

Every sunrise and sunset, Oso and I take a long walk, passing thru the Lorien Forest and the ‘wedding meadow’ (where Patrick and I got married). Our feet shuffle through the leaves while more keep falling from the trees. I keep wondering how my world affects the baby’s world, and how they overlap in (hopefully) the sweetest of ways.

Sometimes my work table gets a little out of control, especially when I’m working on more than one job at once. I found this fun, accidental color assemblage this morning under a pile of sketches and research while cleaning up. The photo is from a tiny mountain village in Sikkim during a full moon procession up to a Buddhist monastery. I love the random perfection of any given snapshot in India.

So, whenever I give Oso the “walk look”, he stares at me, his body totally frozen except for a hopeful butt waggle. When I confirm, he runs toward me, puts on the brakes, sliding, and scrunching up the carpet. He leaps 180 degrees toward the door, always grabbing a toy or a bone and throwing it up in the air in a pure Bhoddisatva moment. This morning, he chose a triangular piece of tracing paper with orange paint and a blue line drawn on it. Hee. It was all the same to him. I’ll tackle cleaning my floor next…

In honor of Halloween and my new book, I found some India Holi photos to share. Ok, so Holi is more of a Springtime, Easter-like celebration, BUT c’mon, doesn’t it look like Halloween? Same, same, but different!

And just to amuse myself, I made this ’supergal’. Seemed appropriate since I’ve been flying a lot lately (in my dreams). Happy Halloween!

Have a fun weekend!

Our prayers were answered — we found our “dream 22-ft geodesic dome greenhouse” (click here) while we were in Pagosa Springs last weekend. It is used (2 years old) and although they were asking top $$$, they accepted our lower offer (that was still our max), and now it’s ours! (And thank goodness because a new one was a LOT further from our reach.) It will be delivered and constructed within a few weeks, and we’ll be growing a winter round of chard, kale, spinach and broccoli in no time! Not only will this green space be our continued source of organic veggies and health insurance, but it will be an oasis to retreat to, just 50 ft out the door. Yay!! What a blessing.

This summer we also installed a 1700-gallon water catchment cistern with a pipe and hydrant that’s been patiently waiting in a flat, open space for a greenhouse. One more step towards self-sufficiency out here in the mountains! Feels so good and positive. OH, and did I mention it has a big water tank (for it’s solar mass) that will be home to fish, snails, duck weed, lotus flowers, papyrus, a fountain and more?! Hee. I’m giddy.

I’m totally going to be one of those moms who makes all of her baby’s food — pureed-n-mashed up garden goodness!

Funny thing is, I wrote this post yesterday…not knowing and sorta thinking they wouldn’t accept our offer, but I was trying to envision it, and ta da!

Just got back from an awesome 4-day roadtrip to Colorado hiking, playing, and chillin’ in the hot springs. Er, well, just warm springs for me, but still so nice. Feels good to have a little sun on the face and energy in the cup. The weather was perfect. Ultra beautiful landscapes, sun roof open and music turned up.

Aside from matte medium, music is the other elixar of life. SO…HELP WANTED: I’m back in my studio and in SO much need of NEW MUSIC on the itunes library. PLLLLLEASE, all ye visitors (both those who comment and those who never ever do), share your favorite current or all time fave albums for painting or dancin’ or even doing the dishes to. But painting mostly, since boy do I have my work cut out for me the next 2 1/2 months.

So bring it on. Don’t be shy. — folk, jazz, world, reggae, punk rock, whatever –just discover me something new!

And this morning I’m refreshed and back in the studio painting. I’ve been having so much fun working on my new kid’s book. While I can’t share any finished illos, I thought I’d share a small glimpse of my wall, collaged with things I’ve collected to inspire me. It is so fun to watch this book come to life. It’s somewhat of a mystery even to me — until it’s finished.

I love to surround myself with all these patterns, colors, and imagery, but when I paint, I sorta zone it all out and just play. Then, it’s like, I’m on my own, to make my own decisions. It has to arise as it will, doesn’t it? In my head and through my hands and eyes — no matter what is dancing all around me. Also, it’s kinda funny, but as the characters come alive, they seem to take charge, and I’m more along for the ride!

Other fun inspiration: MUSIC: Bon Iver, READING: The Red Tent, ART: Indian Matchbook Art, and PAINTINGS: SaraJo Frieden’s “Let’s Get Lost”.