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!
JB Boyd, an artist that shows such an interesting perspective on this painting… Kind of like when you’re a kid and you’re sprawled out on the grass watching the clouds in the sky… I love when paintings take on a new angle, something different. The way the yellow “pops” against the darkly shaded tree trunks and brilliant blue sky. JB Boyd is an interesting and accomplished young artist represented by Robert Lange Studios in Charleston, SC. Check him out if you get a chance! Here’s a blip about the artist on the gallery website, there’s more, but you need to see his work to appreciate the words! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Boyd currently lives and paints on Goat Island, a barrier island on the outskirts of Charleston, SC. Boyd is a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, has shown his work across the United States, and has been collected around the world. Boyd recently received the Michael and Donna Griffith Lowcountry Artist’s Award.
If you need a new pair of shoes. STOP HERE. LOOK NO FURTHER. I have the BEST place for you to go, ESPECIALLY if you have any kind of foot pain (or other pain caused from your feet, such as back pain)… I have had plantar fasciitis for months now. It’s debilitating. Extremely painful. Yet I kept on moving because if I stopped walking A) I wouldn’t sleep at night and B) I would basically have to stop eating (omg)… so gotta keep moving! After going to a podiatrist, getting orthotics for my shoes that cost about as much as a Vera Wang wedding gown (ok, I exaggerate a wee bit) I struck gold. Black gold. Texas Tea. (ohmygosh, how did the Beverly Hillbillies just pop in my head?)… THE FOOT STORE, conveniently located in Mount Pleasant, SC has knowledgable people working. Carolyn, the lady that helped me was unreal, she watched me walk, looked at my shoes to see how they were worn, tried shoes with my inserts and without… MEASURED MY FOOT! Well, if you haven’t had that done in a while you might want to… seems like your foot doesn’t stay the same size since you were 18. Go figure. This company has HIGH QUALITY footwear with EXPERT PROFESSIONAL people to help you. I was shown a few exercises and I can tell you within 2 days my feet felt 60% better… and each day will improve. I can tell! They have a fantastic WEBSITEas well as a rewards program. It’s well worth it! If you refer your friends there you get a credit after their first purchase. It’s all on the website, check it out! Tell them blogger Barbara sent you ;)
Truly, this is one business I will support with all my might, because after four months of pain I FEEL RELIEF! Woohoo… and hey, let me tell ya, she has the most happenin’ shoes you’ll ever see!! I don’t normally go to this extent on my blog, but I really want those of you who need to know about a place like this to have this information… so here it tis:
Day two of the Sullivan’s Island house tour… This photo is taken of the dining room… This is one of the homes done by Michael and Alison Brewer of Gray Wade, LLC. They did a tremendous job!
This photo is taken from the dining room looking towards the back of the house. I love how you can see all the way to the back door. That big, wide, gorgeous back door. Lovely. Such nice touches. The openness that is so inviting, with a dedicated sitting area, perfect for getting together with old friends. It’s extraordinary how the sitting space spills into the kitchen area, feeling very separate (i.e. you don’t see dirty dishes, etc.) yet it feels uniquely together, one big comfortable space where you can sit and talk yet still have the ability to communicate with someone in the kitchen… a great house for entertaining, no doubt. Furniture placement is so important in a room and I think this was done nicely! (Click on photo to enlarge).
More house tour pics next weekend…! I can’t wait! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Welcome to Sullivan’s Island, SC. How would you like to pull up to this home? (And this is the BACK entrance…)! In the upcoming weekends I’m going to be taking you on a tour of this gorgeous home, so check back often, you won’t want to miss it! The renovating and building of this house is a result of just one of the homes done by the GRAY WADE company that is owned by Michael and Alison Brewer. They did a magnificent job of keeping the home looking like it could have in it’s very best days… I didn’t see it when they bought it, but from what I’ve heard it’s the first house they bought that they couldn’t walk all the way through (floors not safe). The part of the house that was added on was done seamlessly. Its nearly impossible to tell where the original house stops and the newly added portion begins. They went to great detail to have it be that way and it shows…the outside is fabulous in itself, but it’s the inside where the magic begins!
The innovative couple who renovated and built this home have since moved to another gorgeous home in a fabulous location. Perhaps that will be a tour we can take together in the future?. Enjoy today’s photos, more tomorrow!
Back door – love how it’s wider than normal!Front door… gorgeous green!View of pool area from upstairs bedroom
What a unique story this artist has! Meet Frank Bruckmann. I first ran across this artist when searching for blogs about Monhegan. I found one called MONHEGAN SOJOURN, it was fabulous, not only did it showcase Frank’s art, but it included stories and pictures of Monhegan Island, a great love for many of us! I see that since the family has moved off the island they have started another blog (click HERE), more great art, stories, etc. I urge you to check it out! Also check out the artist’s website! The featured painting is entitled FROM WHITEHEAD and can be found on the artist’s website under the MONHEGAN tab!
Here’s a blip from Frank’s website:
Frank began his studies at the DuCret school of Art in New Jersey, and then took classes at the Art Students League in NYC. In Paris he studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, and spent nearly a decade in France and Spain, copying the masters in the great museums, and painting landscapes in the cities and countryside.
Now a resident of New Haven, CT, Frank has found endless subject matter for landscapes in New England, but periodically packs his easel and travels farther and wider in his VW camper.
How exciting is that? Check him out! Catch you back here tomorrow!
I happened upon a fantastic article in PREVENTION MAGAZINE, and I thought it was worth sharing… Each Thursday I’ll post another food that should never cross your lips. It’s a great article because it tells you WHY! I am doing it to the best of my ability!
Ok, here it is, from PREVENTION MAGAZINE:
Corn-Fed Beef
Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming, gives us the scoop:
The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E,omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. “We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure,” says Salatin.
The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers’ markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It’s usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don’t see it, ask your butcher.
Budget tip: Cuts on the bone are cheaper because processors charge extra for deboning. You can also buy direct from a local farmer, which can be as cheap as $5 per pound. To find a farmer near you, search eatwild.com.
Excellent information from a reliable source. That’s why I read Prevention. If you haven’t subscribed, trust me it’s worth it… and it’s nifty size is so perfect to toss in your purse to take with you! Check it out! If you’re in the Charleston area I know EarthFare and Whole Foods carries it. The taste simply cannot compare to corn-fed. It costs more, yes. But we don’t need to eat such large portions, cut your portion and spend the same amount for something that’s better for your body and fill up on those veggies!
So to backtrack… last week it was CANNED TOMATOES… this week, CORN FED BEEF… What do you think it’ll be next time?
Are you wondering what to do with a garden full of fresh veggies? Here is one quick and easy idea. What’s better is that this can be made with whatever you have on hand each day, so it’s completely different! Mushrooms, celery, walnuts, chicken, shrimp, hey… whatever you have will work! For this evenings meal, I have a zucchini, part of an orange pepper, some cremini mushrooms and some onion. Like I said, use what you’ve got…
Throw on a pot of water while you cut up the veggies. I like them cut small, my mom cuts big, it really doesn’t matter, do what you like (isn’t that liberating??)… Heat a skillet (you can use non-stick, I prefer a regular skillet or a cast iron skillet) with some olive oil, enough to lightly cover the bottom (don’t be too chintzy, you’ll need it to coat the pasta), toss in the cut up veggies (once you hear a SIZZLE when you slide a piece into the pan, cook it on medium high until it starts to get lightly brown… owwwwieee. you’re getting close to heaven now… won’t be much longer. Go ahead and toss the pasta into the boiling water. I usually use angel hair (capellini) because it cooks so quickly! Once the pasta is done, drain it well then toss it into the pasta and stir around. Turn the skillet off. I use tongs to coat the pasta with the oil and veggies. I realize I’m not giving amounts here, use what you like and whatever amount you like. You see what I used and that was for two people. I probably use about 1/3+ of a package of capellini… then sprinkle with PARMESAN… woohoo… you can also add fresh basil or any other herbs along the way. It’s hard to mess this up. It will become a go to meal when you can’t think of anything else to make (or don’t have time).
Tada... Dinner is served!
And there you have it… dinner is READY! As you can see in this picture I added a fresh cut up tomato.
Another option to change things up a bit… once the veggies are done, add the cooked/drained pasta, then add a few spoonfuls of PLAIN REGULAR yogurt (flavored is weird and Greek yogurt is too thick), stir it in with the veggies and pasta, then (hold on to your hat, this is the best part…) grate some pepper jack cheese over the top… throw a lid on top of the skillet just until the cheese melts… oh heavens. Tasty!
Really, what can be more exciting than finding artists that are new to you?? Philip Frey is an artist from Ellsworth, Maine. He has some fabulous work, very exciting! Philip (one “L”) has a fabulous WEBSITEand lists all the galleries (with links!) that he’s affiliated with. This image came from the Courthouse Gallery website, it was painted this year and is entitled “Evening Light, Stonington”. If you get a chance check out his other work!
Here’s a blip from the Courthouse Gallery website:
Philip Frey is inspired by color and how he can use light and color to recreate Maine’s incredible landscape. His unique style has emerged over the last decade with recent paintings becoming more realistic. Throughout this evolution, Frey has continued to use strong, vibrant colors.
Frey’s sense of color stems from an interest in Fauvism, a major avant-garde European art movement in the 20th century. Henri Matisse, who Frey credits as a major influence, embraced this expressionistic style characterized by vivid, exuberant color. Other European artists, whose work Frey admires, include Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Edouard Manet.
Ohmygosh, we had the time of our lives on our wedding day! This is us, big hair and all, NINETEEN YEARS AGO today! Whew does time ever fly. Right when you decide to forget about finding the one true love in life do you happen to walk a friends dog right up to their very feet. What a happy day that was. I knew almost immediately that Fred was THE ONE. It was his gentle demeanor, the way he listened when I talked, the way he was truly HAPPY to see me. Fred is everything in the world to me, he’s my ONE TRUE LOVE, and I will be forever grateful!
Happy 19 years Fred! I love you!! More happy days to come… xoxo barbara
Catch y’all back here tomorrow!! I believe we have some anniversary cake to eat, ha ha…
Ahhh, Port Clyde, Maine. It’s the most fabulous place in the world. No glitz and glitter, just down to earth kind people. Friendly people that you can sit with at the general store each morning and talk while you have coffee and toast. Or wonderful strangers that become friends that teach you how to knit! Hard working people who don’t complain. It’s somewhere everyone needs to see at least once. When we were there several years ago I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE. I still don’t. I want to go back… and I can’t wait until that happens… Also can’t wait to see our friends on Monhegan… woohoo, they say it’s healthy to have a vacation to look forward to, woohoo…
Catch you back here tomorrow!
**Note: you can always click on the image for larger photo!
HOLY COW! The wildlife around this place is enough to do me in. Seriously. I enjoy (yeah, right) frogs and snakes, raccoons and possums as long as I’m INSIDE and they’re OUTSIDE. I always run into a situation when Fred isn’t here to rescue me, ugh! The HUGE snakes while I’ve been walking… I have to admit, they are the worst. I’m outside with Charlie (Jack Russell who would love dearly to “play” with this frog)… and out of the corner of my eye I spot this big dark thing. WHAT?! Oh…. Charlie!! LETS GO GET TREATS!! I get the beast in the house, snap a few photos of the frog when he decides to hop in and go for a swim. I watch him do laps like nothing I have ever seen! Two swift kicks (yes, frog kicks!) and he was from one side of the pool to the other. I call Fred and ask him if this frog can possibly hop out like he hopped in. I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be the answer I wanted. So I’m running back and forth with the net and this thing is wearing me out! About lap 10 he slowed down and I was able to catch him in the net and plop him down on dry ground. I got him out of the net and came inside. I warned him that he was on his own… I’m not going back out there! What next…??? Ugh, DON’T ANSWER THAT! I guess I should just be thankful I don’t have the paparazzi following me around and having all this on YouTube… argh!
Happy day! Let me just say, it’s my birthday… it is what it is… i’m not sad that i’m another year older, good grief… rather thankful would be more like it! I think every day that you wake up should be a good day, right?! Thank you to all of you who have sent me happy birthday wishes, you’re all too kind!
I wish you all a very happy day. We plan to sit back and chill and have a fabulous day, I wish the same for you!
Once again, a wonderful article from Prevention magazine! The article is entitled “7 Foods That Should Never Cross Your Lips”. It provides wonderful insight as to WHY you shouldn’t eat these foods… and they’re COMMON foods. Ugh. Here we go for this weeks food to avoid:
Canned Tomatoes
Fredrick Vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A, gives us the scoop:
The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. “You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,” says vom Saal. “I won’t go near canned tomatoes.”
The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe’s and Pomi.
Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe.
IMAGE: Prevention.com
This is excellent information. I have already found the Pomi tomatoes (wonderful) at a local grocery store in town, so I’ve made the switch to those… also Trader Joe’s just recently opened, so I will check out their tomatoes as well! See if you can find these tomatoes where you live, if not maybe ask the grocery store if they can order?? Hey, if I got more than one stinking tomato off my tomato plant (the size of a plum yet!) I would love to can them, what could be better than that??!
WOOHOO mom!! This is your LAST chemo treatment (woohoo, can you believe it??)!! Oooowieeee am i ever thankful for that! I love you! me
Catch you back here tomorrow… check out my PHOTO BLOG if you get a minute!
These tough chewy things are out of this world good… well, I specifically wouldn’t know, but Charlie our Jack Russell knows his treats, and these things can’t be beat. This brand is by Redbarn and they’re called Bully Springs. We were told they’re like steak to a dog… Hmmm, the little beast has a nightly ritual, he sits by ‘his drawer’ waiting for his ‘bully bully’ which he has the biggest time with and then gets up and goes and eats his dinner… followed by a ring of the bells at the back door and few laps around the house at about 50MPH then crashes into a deep sleep… all I know is that we cannot run out of these things. OR. ELSE. We’ll have to give up food before we give up bully’s. Ha… we’re hoping he grows out of it, yeah, right!
Enjoy your tough chewy treat! Catch you back here tomorrow!
What a wonderful painting of King Street in Charleston, SC. You can feel the hustle and bustle. If you haven’t heard of Dee Beard Dean I urge you to check out her WEBSITE. She’s a magnificent artist with a great website (oh so important)! She’s in many galleries, the image above is from the Hagen Fine Art Gallery and Studio located at 27 1/2 State Street in Charleston. She offers workshops all over the country… check her out!
I’ll catch you back here tomorrow! If you get a chance, check out my photo blog!
