Vegas = too much

(Tara watching the boats at the Bellagio)

We spent a couple of days in Vegas and I just have to say...I am not a Vegas kinda' girl!!! Maybe like...20 years ago but...definitely not anymore. I haven't been there since I was in my late teens and man...have things ever changed over there!!! Huge palatial over the top hotels and everything in excess (to the nth power !!) . First of all...I must be getting old because all I wanted to do by 11 p.m. was go to sleep!! I know, I know...I can stay up until 3 in the morning painting!! It was scorching hot for the two days we were there (like you could cook an egg on the sidewalk kinda' hot!!) and there were a gazillion people walking the strip. Exhausting!!! I longed for cool and quiet.  It was fun to see Tara in awe of the grandeur + lights + all the action.  But other than that??? It was all a bit too much for me. I don't like buffets or gambling. The shops on the strip were over the top expensive (100$ t-shirts???) All in all...I was glad to leave the hustle bustle and venture out into the vast open spaces, the red mountains and mesas of Arizona. I did spot Elvis though:)

high desert Ca.

                                                        (somewhere in California)
I can't believe how my little baby is all grown up...smart + sassy and just bursting with life. I have always been a gypsy...have loved travelling all of my life but these past few years after Tara was born...I have been in total nesting mode. We love our routine, familiarity and ...just being home. But now that Tara is a little older...I love travelling with her!! Showing her so many new places and things...plus...I get to experience everything through her eyes. We had such a blast at this little water park a few days ago. She absolutely loves seeing new sights and putting together what we have read with the places she visits.

                                                      (Joshua Tree National Park, Ca.)
I have to admit that when we arrived here in high desert California a few days ago...I was a little...uh! overwhelmed. I love greenery + mountains + lush flowers and the terrain here is just the opposite.. But there is an elemental beauty here...all stripped down. The trees look like sad and sombre sculptures...very elegant + sparse reaching their limbs up to the sky. There are hundreds of species of plants that grow here too...not like the Thar Desert (in India) where there was just sand. Over here there are all sorts of cacti (purple pink and orange), brilliant fuchsia desert flowers and yellow wildflowers. And at night....a carpet of stars cover the inky blue skies. And it is scorching...searing...hot all through the day. Still...it's not a place I would want to live...but it's definitely something to experience.

                                                  (Mothers Day, Palm Springs Ca.)
And the best news of all??? My family is back together and we are heading off on our road trip!!! Next we are on to Disney so Tara can get her Minnie fix. We tried to plan our trip to include all of our loves + interests so....lots of fun kids stuff, art, national parks, water, hiking, coffeehouses, summer music, r&r.

New Mexico magic

                                                    (somewhere in New Mexico)
Tara and I have been on the road these past 4 days...driving  to meet up with Tim. Tara has been such an amazing little traveller. Of course I have had to keep her busy busy in the backseat. Lots of rest stops, parks, books, movies, coloring books and singing. We drove through Sante Fe and stopped off for the afternoon. I just love love love Sante Fe ...everything is art in this charming town...even the bus stops!!! No kidding!! I went crazy taking pictures...every glimpse and corner is a photograph just begging to be captured.

This was an amazing artist from Burkina Faso (West Africa) who was painting right there in the church grounds. I stopped and we talked  for a good half hour about art, spirit, making his own pigments, symbolism and abstraction, politics, his country, Mother Africa...on and on. All the while Tara was listening intently, looking at his amazing art and wanting to get her hands in the paint, of course!!

Here's an old church ...I love the juxtaposition of the modern steel (moving!!) sculptures with the old stone + architecture. To me...it speaks of the passage of time and how we can honor and preserve the old (even in ourSELVES + our lives) while still accomodating the new. Growth demands it!!

I stumbled upon this gorgeous little store tucked away in an alley that has the most fantastic textiles. The store is called Passementrie and is located at 115 Old Sante Fe Trail. It's totally worth checking out. These quilts right here are handmade in India...I love the patterns + colors...don't you?

More quilts...I just couldn't resist. They also have all sorts of clothes, knitwear and accessories.

Old brass and copper pots from Mumbai that had me swooning. This was at India Palace where we had lunch. If you like Indian food...this is the place to go. They've been in biz here for over 20 years and are recommended by Fodors, Lonely Planet and...just about everyone in town!! The owner was an interesting + congenial man...and he treated Tara like a princess!! Oh!! and the food...I've been dreaming about it ever since!!

Every little alley and wall has an amazing piece of architecture. Here was this jewel of a piece just sitting there in between two stores. I would love to have it in my studio:)

Gorgeous (Spanish??) tile. I love the blue and white combo...very Dutch...very summery. Like I said...art everywhere!!!

Fat spools of Italian yarn...they were all stacked up on tables...hundreds of them it seemed. Makes me want to sew.

Metal art...I love the turquoise and copper combination. Tara and I stopped off at a little bakery/cafe and right across the way..I spotted this lizard.

Adobe architecture reminds me of O' Keefe. The humility, earthiness, simplicity and elegance are mirrored in her paintings (I feel).  I adore the strong lines and connection to the earth...how it seamlessly blends into the desert landscape . These are found all over New Mexico...every one slightly different. In my dreams...I live here.

road trip!!!

Hello Ca.!!!! We are on a road trip..driving up the golden coastline.
sunshine. small beach towns. stopping for sandwiches. Pacific Coast Hwy. family time. sun-kissed skin. fruit stands. afternoon naps. breezes. summer dresses. miles of vineyards. holding hands. ice cream from Stone Cold. photos. surfers. making memories of the best kind.
Just soaking it all up!