Birthday-day...

' Had a nice, chocolately day -

-filled with good wishes and treats from friends (lovely booty here from Gretel arrived serendipitously this afternoon) and family -

My husband sweetly took me out to a ridiculously expensive, yet fantastically and exotically delicious restaurant called Cafe Juanita - which specializes in Northern Italian cuisine made with seasonal, local ingredients (my husband had octopus (above), pear salad and duck, I had kale soup, citrus risotto and roasted rabbit... Wow! Such amazing flavor combinations! Have a gander at their menu. I wanted to try everything.)

And Roz made *my* day by giving me an ''you make my day" award. (I have been so buried, I have been dismal at responding to these kinds of things - so sorry Chantal and Claire and anyone else I've completely ignored during this time of deadline purgatory...)


To pass it on, here are the details:
1. Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make me think and/or make my day.
2. Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3. Display the “You Make my Day Award” logo
4. Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news.

There are so many fabulous blogs out there - how can one possibly choose? Here, however, are five that I consistently enjoy (and you five, feel free to ignore being 'tagged' if you can't get to it either! I totally understand):

1. Does Gretel of Middle of Nowhere ever post amiss? I revel in every entry. I want to move in.
2. Maddy over at Whittier on Autism is consistently, bitingly insightful and incredibly droll. Such warm, encompassing humanity.
3. Chantal at Celestine Musings always has gorgeous images combined with perfect quotes or thoughts. Scrolling through her blog is like scanning through a high-end coffee-table-gift book full of nurturing content.
4. Eric of Eric Orchard is a talented, imaginative illustrator who graciously posts paintings and art musings nearly *every day*. (I'm lucky to make it through my email any more).
5. And Andrea over at Colouring Outside the Lines is a must-read for thoughtful, wry insights into art and life (plus is an artiste-extraordinaire)





Now, I'm afraid, it's back to the 'drawing board' - literally. Somehow, I've ended up taking on *another* series with insane deadlines (four heavily illustrated books by the middle of April). Luckily this time they are adding an additional illustrator to help at the beginning of this project, rather than in the middle like last time - but it is still mind boggling. I think it averages about 16 days a book (which on my end includes design, a cover, a couple of full page, full color interiors as well as 2-3 dozen spots of various sizes and complexity, and any revisions needed. Somewhere in here I also have a handful of fairy-covers to do as well... This will be interesting).

I may follow Mia's example and head to bed early as my final celebration today, and that may be the last you see of me, or I see of my bed, for the next few months!

Please send chocolate.