Anyone who knows Silas and me also knows that our chosen symbol for our relationship is a hot air balloon. (I am air. He is fire.) So imagine my utter delight when I moved to Taos to discover not only daily hot air balloon flights I could watch from my early morning window with a hot cup of chai, but a full blown (yes, that's a pun) HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL each October! TO DIE!

The first Hot Air Balloon Festival I witnessed was launched the very first morning after my arrival in Taos. And silly me, I thought it was an every day thing. Like Taos was just so pleased with itself it needed to parade its loveliness into the sky each dawn. But then I thought "No. Maybe they just knew I was coming!" (Which, let's be frank, is the height of narcissism but would be entirely appropriate given the circumstances. Angi uniting with Taos is cause for celebration.) And then I finally picked up a local newspaper and realized it was an annual event, held each October. I laughed out loud when I read the schedule for the rest of the weekend. "Saturday evening picnic. Sunday morning rally. Mass Ascension at dawn."

How can you not adore a place that schedules mass ascension? And here I was thinking the Christians were in charge of the rapture, when in reality, it's charming, adorable, colorful, entirely bohemian Taos.

Who needs rapture? I'm already in heaven.

So this year is my third trip to the village fairgrounds and some photographic proof that magic does indeed still exist.

I had the great good fortune to see The Swell Season last week. I was so absolutely inspired and thrilled that I planned to write about it as soon as I returned home. (The show was in Albuquerque). Alas, Tink's mysterious illness returned on our trip home and I have been buried in her pain, my own, and a 2 pound bag of Hershey's Kisses ever since.

Well, now, I'm writing about it. Seen the film Once? If not, you should. It's a garjus (Irish accent) tale of two musicians meeting on the streets of Dublin. They know each other for a short time but profoundly change the course of each others lives. It's a testament to inspiration and a beautiful love story to boot. The actors wrote the music in the film and won an Oscar earlier this year. Double inspirational kudos are earned because the plot of the film was conceived and a napkin at a pub and the entire film was shot for $175,000. Triple kudos are earned because actors wrote and performed their own music, fell in love on the set, and have since become a couple. The entire production feels like a school project (a really great school) where the kids get together to shoot something for the love of it.

And yanno? That's what comes across in concert: the Love of It. These guys sing from the soul. And weather it's a melancholic ballad, a folksy-rock number or a full-lung sing-along, it comes from an open place. Tangible, real. It's as if the industry has not gotten to these folks. They're still in someone's living room playing for themselves and for joy. And when music is played like that, it's contageous. I'm afire. And just itching with infectious inspiration.

Word must be out about our Walk Through Wonderland exhibition, for the March Hare decided to drop by today for a word with the Queen. Look closely at the photo. There's some serious conversation going on there. We suspect they're having words about our upcoming show. Or maybe they're just discussing the virtues of my garden. Whatever the topic, the Queen doesn't look too happy about it, but then she's always been hard to please. "It's too sunny!" "It's too rainy!" "It's too cloudy!" "It's too windy!" "Off with your head!"

Good thing she's sequestered in the garden or I'd sleep with one eye open.

I always get kinda weepy this time of year. Though autumn is my favorite season, I'm sad to see summer go. It's always such a joy to tend a garden, colors exploding in all shapes and fragrant sizes. As you can see in the photo, my garden is still hangin' on. My roses are bursting with buds. The hibiscus is poised for a firework display of orangey blooms. But each night the air dangles right above freezing and I know it's just a matter of days. The winters in Taos are long and oh how I do crave the colors of summer! One night too soonish the Queen and the Weather will have their way with all the blossoms and it'll be OFF WITH THEIR HEADS! It's all natural and part of the circle of life. Blah blah blah. Doesn't make it any less painful to watch those little mothers die off.

I think I'll go sit outside with a cup of chai. Catch the light while I still can.