I started the ArtFoodHome.com daily (now 4 times/week) blog 1/1/11 (easy to remember, right?) and have kept it going since then. Come back each day - I share with you:
ART: featured artists, art events, workshops, etc.
FOOD: recipes, restaurants, and good finds along the way
HOME: house plans, home design, places here in Charleston...
On year 14 of artfoodhome.com - share this site with anyone who you think might enjoy it!
There is nothing like a good homemade peanut butter cookie! I tell myself they’re healthy (yeah, right) – full of protein, ha. Well, not so bad if you only make the once in a great while! This recipe makes a lot, so share with your neighbors! I shared some and froze some so we weren’t eating them all! Try to control yourself with the cookie dough…. good luck!
With a mixer, beat together the butter, sugar and brown sugar…
Next… eggs and vanilla!
Add eggs and vanilla… mix just to get the ingredients blended together nicely…
Ooooh, lookin’ good!
Oooh, yeah, this is what you want to see!
Dry Ingredients…
I put dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt) in a separate bowl, then give it a stir to mix it around, and then add to the wet ingredients…
Add the peanut butter!
Next… add the magic touch… the ingredient that makes peanut butter cookies, well… peanut butter cookies! Add the peanut butter, and mix to combine.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet
Get two teaspoons, scoop one teaspoon (mine are rather small, they get larger as they bake), then use the other spoon to drop it onto the un-greased cookie sheet…
Roll into balls lightly with your palms
Pick up the little blop of heavenly dough, and roll between your (clean!) palms lightly to form a ball. In no way does it have to be perfect!
Press with fork (lightly)
Then dip a fork in water (and shake off excess water) then lightly press down…
Press with fork the opposite way if you like
If you’re feeling fancy, press the opposite direction…
TA DA!
You will not believe how wonderful these smell!
TO FREEZE AND BAKE LATER:
Drop by teaspoonful onto cookie sheet, but leave room between them!
This recipe makes a lot of cookies (nearly 6 dozen). So I am sure to share and freeze some so that we don’t end up eating them ALL. To freeze, drop by teaspoonful onto cookie sheet then roll into balls leaving enough space between each cookie to “breathe” (allowing them to freeze).
Cover!
Then wrap in wax paper and then plastic wrap. For some reason I forgot the wax paper this time. No big deal… wrap them up good and put in the freezer several hours until they are frozen and hard.
Don’t forget to label!
Once they are frozen toss them into a zip top freezer bag and be sure to label. I like to add directions for baking as well so I don’t have to look it up! To bake after freezing: place on a cookie sheet and wait until they defrost (doesn’t take too long) (you need to press with a fork dipped in water and you can’t do this when they’re frozen). Then bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes!
ENJOY! I think these will quickly become a favorite!!
David Boyd has such a cool style. It’s plein air with a twist! These two paintings are NOT for sale (sigh, I know!) they are amazing aren’t they? Both of them stood out and are remarkable. They look like they could almost be watercolor, but they are oil. AND THEY ARE FABULOUS. How brilliant to paint it on a slight angle? It makes you feel as if you’re sitting on one of the steps of the porch looking up, doesn’t it?
Inside Out by David Boyd Jr. – NFS
Another not for sale, and I don’t blame David, these are in his private collection. Both of these paintings are of the front door of his childhood home. No wonder he wants to keep them! I would too! The interior… fabulous! The outside… I could look at it all day! Lovely painting…
David’s work is expressive and loose and I love that! Another subject that David is well known for… his tractors, trucks, etc. David isn’t afraid to paint large! It works because there aren’t a lot that are still for sale! So if you see something you like… I wouldn’t hesitate!
Little Red by David Boyd Jr. – Sold
Just look at this! How wonderful? It’s got a lot of abstractness to it which I really like! Be quick I tell ya… Little Red… sold!
Big Boy by David Boyd Jr. – Available!
Another cool tractor, more subdued colors, very nice! Big Boy is one of the few tractor paintings that are currently available… the more subdued color palette is amazing! The brushstrokes… get outta here! Stunning!
I love it when an artist is creative with their words. There are a few bio’s that I still remember, just absolutely so creative and interesting (Tom Balderas immediately comes to mind!). THIS IS ONE OF THEM! David clearly has a sense of humor which makes life that much better, doesn’t it? Read a blip about David from his website (read more HERE):
Biography
From an early age, Boyd was encouraged by his parents to create. There was never a shortage of art materials at the Boyd household. Even the walls of his childhood bedroom were left unfinished so that he could draw at will. He was influenced by his father; the elder Boyd is a renowned illustrator and character who draws for Jeff Foxworthy and Mark Morgan, Inc and once proprietor of The Print Shoppe in Newnan. Luckily, young Boyd was also heavily influenced by his mother, Rosalyn Boyd, the “quintessential southern belle”, beloved Heritage school teacher, and instructor to thousands with a penchant for dance and music. These facts coupled with early indication that the young Boyd had little, if any, math, organizational, or social skills pointed towards a life of crime or a career in the visual arts. After much consideration, Boyd chose the latter of the two.
As those early dreams of becoming a hired assassin or race car driver began to diminish, Boyd settled into the life of an artist. After moving to Savannah for school, Boyd began studying architecture, then graphic design and finally art history and illustration at Savannah college of Art and Design. Boyd graduated with a BFA in Illustration in 1995. Boyd painted his first painting during this time, focusing on the moonlight through the live oaks of Savannah’s Washington Avenue.
In 2004, Boyd’s father grew ill, and the younger Boyd was asked to take the reigns at Mark Morgan, Inc, an editorial cartoon syndication company, until his father could get back on his feet. With the elder Boyd now back in good health, father and son have continued working together on the editorial cartoons and can be seen at the Redneck Gourmet in Newnan each Saturday morning, planning and plotting their latest editorial attack. The father-son team also produce e-greeting cards with Jeff Foxworthy, which can be found at www.foxworthyredneckecards.com. The two Boyd’s are also responsible for the design and execution of design work, murals and signage for The Redneck Gourmet family of restaurants.
Boyd’s love of painting has been an odd journey resulting in many different types of paintings. Boyd considers himself an obsessed experimenter, not having settled on a single style or a concentration of subjects. Boyd’s pieces range from the expressionistic to the abstract, with subject matter that includes everything from trees and landscapes to chairs and doors, and sizes varying from small studies to murals.
Recently Boyd has been focusing on alla prima oil paintings of still lives and landscapes, especially a new found love of plein air painting. Boyd has been experimenting with daily painting, which is exactly as it sounds. He attempts to paint a piece a day and documents it on his blog with a written journal about each piece. Most of these pieces are smaller in scale. In 2009, Boyd was accepted as a member of the online art movement DailyPainters.com. Boyd is predominantly a self- taught painter having studied under Millie Gosch, Gene Costanza, Jill Steenhuis, Roger Dale Brown, Marc Chatov, and Scott Christensen and Greg LaRock.
Boyd is a member of OPA and AIS. He has been selected for regional OPA shows and AIS National where he was awarded an Honorable mention by the judge, Kevin McPherson. In addition, Boyd has been participating in plein air events around the southeast including the Quick Draw at The Great American Paint Out and an invitation the Plein Air Affair in St. Simon’s Island, GA where to received and 3rd place for his quick draw painting.
Sometimes, all you need is a nice hot cuppa love… like this one from Black Tap Coffee in Charleston, SC (70 1/2 Beaufain Street). If you haven’t been there I highly suggest that you go. They do not disappoint. Ever! The coffee is different. It’s good, very, very good. The atmosphere is very with it and you will leave with a smile on your face!
Here is an image from their Facebook page (Black Tap Coffee) to give you an idea what a cool place it is:
Gorgeous, right? One day Fred and I were walking in our neighborhood (Windermere) and the nearby area (South Windermere), and we saw a house that was empty and on the market. It had undergone a complete restoration by a high quality builder in our area. This is the backyard… Low tide… Gorgeous, isn’t it? I think these two adironack chairs and the view may sell the house!
What a fabulous nocturnal plein air painting! Love the moonlight, the deep blue sky and those lights way off in the distance. Very nice! This painting is available at the Lindsay Goodwin Gallery. Caution: the image on their website is lighter than the real painting. This image came from Kevin’s website, so I would say this is more the real deal. Brilliant composition how everything keeps your eye in the loop… Great painting! I really like Kevin’s work. Check out his website when you get a chance!
Kevin Menck was born and raised in Middle Tennessee. After graduating from art school, he worked briefly as a designer and then as a self-employed illustrator for 15 years. “Working as an illustrator helped me develop skills that are fundamental to what I do now, especially drawing. The ability to draw is the foundation to everything.”
In 2002 Kevin met and befriended local painter Jason Saunders. “Jason was very instrumental in my development as an artist. He introduced me to the basics of landscape painting and also instilled in me the importance of painting from nature. Nature is the best teacher I’ve had.”
Kevin is now committed to painting the landscape “en plein aire.” Being an avid outdoorsman for years, Kevin has a deep love and respect for the outdoors. “I remember sitting in a duck blind or deer stand and trying to figure out how to capture what I was seeing on canvas. To get that atmosphere, to make a cold day look cold and hot days hot. I want the viewer to look at it and know what it actually was to be there.”
I should have posted this long, long ago with all this polar vortex freezing weird weather all over the country! Have you seen these before? A faucet protector that protects from freezing, as well as wind and cold. This one is from Frost King. We bought these years ago and use them year after year. They hold up well and seem to do the trick. Any time the temp is going to drop below freezing we remove the hoses and put these insulator thingy’s on the outside faucet. So far, so good. We bought ours at Lowes, they’re a couple dollars each, which is a small price to pay!
Remember to leave both your HOT and COLD water dripping when temps drop below freezing! It’s cheaper than paying to have your pipes fixed!
Oyster Boats by Tim Bell (available at Galerie on Broad in Charleston, SC)
Tim Bell is an amazing artist from Maryland. We met Tim back in 2006 while on Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine. I learned a lot from Tim that first year. He was a wealth of information… as outlined here in a quote from me that I ran across on the Wall’s Gallery website… while reading it I thought it sounded familiar and then I saw my name, ha ha…
We watched Tim paint Uncle Henry’s, a popular old house as you walk from the wharf to the Island Inn… it was reminiscent of Rockwell Kent’s work in so many ways. Oyster Boat has some of the same wonderful violets and that drop dead gorgeous warm light… Spectacular!
I am excited to say that Tim’s work is now being shown right here in Charleston, SC at Galerie on Broad, located on historic Broad Street! If you’re in Charleston, SC stop by and check out his work!
Tim Bell is a painter in the American Impressionist tradition. He is a graduate of Frostburg State University where his post-graduate studies were at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis, Maryland and the Cape Cod School of Art in Provincetown, Massachusettes. Tim has won countless awards at the various plein air events, specifically Plein Air Easton near his home. His work has been influenced by painters such as John Twachtman, Charles Hawthorne, Hovsep Pushman and Henry Hensche.
T H E D O L L A R B I L L T E S T & S A V I N G $ W I T H Y O U R F R I D G E !
Ok, maybe not so secret since I saw it on Rachel Ray’s Show one day when I was in the kitchen… Peter Walsh was one of the guests and he discussed ways to save $ with your refrigerator… Did you know if you pull your refrigerator out 1″ from the wall you can save 40% in electricity (on the fridge) because it will run more efficiently? ONE. INCH. I wish this was a new tip we could start doing, but ours is already out a good 1.5″ right now, so that one didn’t help… the more air can circulate the easier it is to run (and less costly).
Next tip: The dollar bill test. Open your fridge door and close it on a dollar bill. Then, with the door closed try to pull the dollar bill out without opening the door. Did it just fall out? Did you not feel any resistance? It just slid pretty easily? (This is what happened for me)… Or did you fee resistance? If you felt resistance, move on… your seal is in good shape. Mine on the other hand pulled out very easily. Sigh… fridge is only a few years old. Normally this can cost $200-300 on a service call, BUT there is something that you can do that will save you that money… Petroleum Jelly (AKA Vaseline). Yep, that stuff you can use to help chapped lips, dry feet or hands… you just put a small amount on your finger and run it across the seal (top, bottom, side, etc.) just a small amount, you don’t need a lot. A thin bead of it will do the trick. Now open your refrigerator door. WHOA, right?!! It’s much harder to open because its sealed better than it was.
The dollar bill test (demonstrated) and many more tips from Peter Walsh: Watch the video…
Here’s the link to the Rachel Ray show regarding this story.
Me (in my runway days, ha ha)… going for the shorty dress and the wicked short bangs (thanks mom!). I remember those bang trims… (I wonder if there was a template that was taped to my head? Ahhh this makes me laugh…) If my grandma saw them she would have a fit and take me to get them fixed, ha ha… not sure which version this is above. I look like I’m going somewhere special… have the purse and everything! Too funny!
Fred has the day off, so I’m going to do the same, have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!
Charleston has many wonderful hotels. Top notch. We also have beautiful bed and breakfasts. I mentioned the Wentworth Mansion last week, which is a gorgeous inn to stay at. Another is 27 State Street Bed & Breakfast. 27 State is convenient to all that Charleston has to offer. Check out their website! Remember the gas lantern from yesterday’s post? This is it!
When you’re walking around Charleston, SC you never know what you’ll see. Sometimes it’s the small details that make a place really stand out. Details like the lighting at this doorway. Gas lanterns go way back, and that wonderful warm light that glows makes everything look better! Interesting colors downtown as well. Not the typical colors you see everyday, and they look striking! Look at the detail in the woodwork. It’s not the norm anymore. If you head downtown I would highly suggest bringing a camera!!
When you go to my blog and type “Monhegan” in the search box at the top right, you will see many posts appear… so many gorgeous photos, art, and interesting people… Lots of them. The next few Friday’s I’m going to share some of my artists photos from Monhegan. If you are an artist and haven’t been to Monhegan yet… you are in for a treat. There are wonderful places to stay like the Island Inn, or for the more artsy, the Monhegan House. I hear artists love to stay there because they paint all day and talk about art all night. What. Could. Be. Better? Monhegan is a small island about ten miles off the coast of Maine. You take a ferry to get there and there are no cars (except for the locals with trucks for deliveries). You will see easels set up everywhere! It’s a jaw dropping time, truly!
Tim Bell
I took this photo the first year we met artist Tim Bell. What an interesting guy! So full of knowledge that he was sharing, I was writing notes like a crazy person. I was like a sponge trying to absorb all of his information. We spoke with Tim a good bit on this trip. A few times I hung out by his easel while he took a short break (very rare for Tim), and everyone who walked by commented (thinking it was my painting)… I did a lot of explaining in those few short minutes, but also got to feel what it must be like if you’re good. Really. Good. For an artist like Tim who receives so much attention, he is the most down to earth person you will ever meet. He quickly became a friend to treasure for a lifetime. Through Tim we met another artist with the same down to earth abilities even though his paintings are award winning time after time… Ken DeWaard. One day it would be cool to all be on Monhegan at the same time. Just think… you would all have a free photographer, ha ha…
Ok, here are some more…
Tim Bell painting Uncle Henry’s on Monhegan
This is the second year we met Tim on Monhegan… he was painting Uncle Henry’s, and what a fabulous painting that turned out to be!
Tim Bell painting at Lobster Cove on Monhegan
Cool shot, eh? Nice stance Tim! Look at all the artists set up painting. I’m pretty sure this was the day that there were big winds and artists flocked to paint the surf. See that house in the distance? For those of you who aren’t familiar it is owned by artist Jamie Wyeth. He bought it from artist Rockwell Kent. (Cool article about the two of them from Fine Art Connoisseur). What a view it must have. I cannot imagine!
Tim Bell – Monhegan
A close up of Tim’s set up. I’m not even sure I could lift it let alone hike with it. You wouldn’t believe how organized some artists are… it’s impressive.
Kevin Beers painting near the Island Inn on Monhegan
GO BIG OR GO HOME. I bet that’s Kevin’s motto. He is the one artist you see walking down the street with a HUGE canvas… he comes back at the same time each day to catch the same light. His work is incredible and talk about a nice guy. We met Kevin the first year and have stayed in touch. The coolest people go to Monhegan!
Joe Fidler (dad) painting at a cottage in Port Clyde, ME
Ahhh, this artist here… love this guy… HI DAD! He’s a great artist too! He has painted in Port Clyde, Maine when we rented a cottage on the ocean there. What a dream vacation!
Joe Fidler (dad) painting in Port Clyde, ME
This was right in front of our cottage. That cottage was truly a dream!
Me painting on Monhegan
Ooooh… and who might this be? What?! It’s me… hee…
I know I should probably have more variety from different architects. Problem is I’m stuck on Allison Ramsey Architects! I think their plans are fabulous, detailed, classy and have more of what I’m looking for. I have literally spent hours scouring other sites trying to find something that would be suitable. Ugh… so many that look the same, kind of cookie cutter type and I zip through them… Once in a great while I will find a plan I like, but then it’s hard to share because it can be difficult to get permission to use their photos and house plans, and some really make you jump through hoops. I did that a few times. However, since this is a non-paying job, (ha ha), I need to move on and work with those who will work with me. Allison Ramsey is a great outfit. If I were hiring an architect today, they would be my hands down, number one choice. They are accessible. They answer questions and… THEY. ARE. GOOD. So here goes another great plan from ARA!
Red Bluff is a great plan with 1,590 square feet. It has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. You’ll find it in the CAROLINA INSPIRATIONS – BOOK 1 on their website!
Red Bluff house plan by Allison Ramsey Architects
I like how there are French doors leading to the (screened) porch off the living area! That way you can open the French doors up and be bug free. If I were to build this plan I would screen the deck area off the bedroom as well so that I could open those French doors, or opt to replace those doors with a window and leave the deck. Either way it would work beautifully!
Whew, another great plan found… thank you ARA!
To see actual images of homes that were built, click HERE. (I love that they do this!)
Plying the Pearl River by Andy Evansen [image via]How fabulous is this watercolor? So many little things make it really stand out as a knock out piece. The water is wonderful and that little splash from the oar… brilliant! It’s fabulous how the little pops of bright color highlight just the perfect amount. Andy has some amazing work, check out his website if you get a chance!
This painting, Plying the River Pearl, was accepted into the 2014 American Watercolor Society show in New York! Congratulations Andy!
Andy began painting watercolors in the mid 1990’s, is largely self-taught, and has studied with such well-known watercolorists as Skip Lawrence, Eric Weigardt, and Alvaro Castagnet. He served as President of the Minnesota Watercolor Society from 2004-2006 and teaches workshops around the United States.
His paintings have appeared on the cover of American Artist’s Watercolor magazine and in International Artist, Watercolor Artist, Plein Air and American Art Collector magazines. His award-winning paintings are in collections on 4 continents. He was awarded the Bronze Medal of Honor at the 2012 AmericanWatercolor Society Exhibition and was jut elected a signature member of the prestigious Plein-Air Painters of America.
I simply cannot wait to try this! There was a great article from NPR about some everyday tasks that you might not be doing right… This is incredible! You know how when you hard boil an egg, some shells slip right off and others you can only get little tiny piece by little tiny piece, sometimes not leaving much of the egg… Well you’ve got to watch this video! Tim Ferriss shows how easy it is to remove the shells, they BLOW RIGHT OFF THE EGG. Watch and you’ll see!
A few words from Matt Thompson (NPR):
I prepared my breakfast of hard-boiled eggs a bit differently this morning. I added a teaspoon of baking soda to the boiling water. When the eggs were done, I cooled each one in ice water, then cracked both ends of the shell, held it in my fist and blew. Each time, the shell shook a bit and whistled, then out popped the egg, shell-less and delicious.
Get. Outta. Here!
Update: I was researching more about Tim Ferriss (the guy that did the video) and he has a blog that this was featured on. His blog is an amazing resource, check it out if you get a chance!
