I ran across this most amazing website a few weeks ago and so you must really dash along here if you want to send in an entry for the map contest! But even without the contest, you’re going to love these wonderfully illustrated recipes and maps.

Take a look at They Draw & Cook…but I must warn you that you’ll get sucked in for a while. The art work is SO clever, and honestly, I don’t even like to cook and I wanted to try some of these recipes. If you have an artsy side, you can even submit a recipe yourself, maybe end up in the next cook book.  (You can shop for the book and really cool fonts, or mugs or…well,  zip over here to see the Monkey Banana Shop where proceeds benefit the World Food Program USA.  That’s pretty neat, right?)

And if you are an artist,  you’ll want to check out the map contest at They Draw & Travel. HUGE prizes but not a lot of time to get that map finished (Deadline February 10th!!!!). You know, I don’t think you have to be a Rembrandt kind of artist for this contest. If you’re creative and inventive and have a favorite place, I’ll bet you could draw something swell. Not that I can draw much beyond stick men (Hence, Cathy-on-a-Stick is a photo of me on a stick) but I’ve met lots of writers who can also draw, or paint, or dance or play music. So, I wanted to pass this contest along to you incredibly talented people (who through no fault of your own make me feel somewhat inadequate).

Anyway, it’s Friday and time for a lovely little break. I watched this animated short called “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” which just happens to be nominated for the 2012 Academy Awards’ Best Animated Short Category. And yes, it’s 15 minutes. But after only a minute, you’ll see why it’s up for an Oscar. And if you love books, you’ll see why it made me cry (in a totally uplifting and lovely way). Enjoy.