Hi there! Made a nice dinner using Nigella Lawson's delightful roast lamb recipe (I had been anti-lamb, then decided I should try it once) and unfortunately for sheep, I really liked it. I didn't think I would. It went nicely with gratin potatoes an roasted pepper salad. I love to eat. We made a complicated drink called Basil Grande (1 shot chambord, 1 shot grande marnier, 1 shot vodka, 3 shots cranberry juice, muddled with 4 strawberries & 3 basil leaves, shaken w/ ice and finished w/ black pepper) my new favorite drink that I will have to make myself if I ever want it

again. It has been a week of slow food, long drinks and a whole lot of relaxing and dreaming. Our good friend Steve Gornick is in town, visiting and playing music. Having Steve around means music is in the air! Greg gets out his instruments and everyone starts playing. Except me. I listen and draw. Azalea gets into it, I might get her a tiny djembe (african drum) so she can rock it. Its a great atmosphere to work to. Im designing new stuff, really thinking about flat charms that feel organic. A new direction...I think I need to stay up all night. I found this mandrake sculpture by Brendan Monroe while googling for images of the plant (www.richardhellergallery.com) . I think I want it for my porch to greet me when I come up the steps. If only it was an inexpensive resin garden sculpture! That always gets me thinking how fun it'd be to make garden art that strange kids like me would enjoy. My garden would be filled with bird people, sphinxes and fairies more akin to insects than cute little girls. Maybe when my girls in school, then I'll have time. The Denver show is this weekend and I should be cranking out samples, but I have to say, I am not into it. I'd rather be carving. So thats the plan until 3 or 4 am. Night,all!