Today someone very special to me is beginning a battle… today is surgery with a long but promising road to follow. If you could take a moment and say a prayer for strength and courage, for healing and happiness, I would be forever grateful. Prayer really does make a difference…
This is the Courage Angel by Willow Tree. I can’t tell you how many I have purchased over the years, there is always one to fit an occasion where nothing else seems appropriate.
HAPPY EARTH DAY! Pledge an act of green by clicking HERE. Whether it be planting a tree, conserving water or recycling, the choice is yours. If everyone does SOMETHING it will make our planet a better place. Even if you don’t click to make the pledge it still counts if you just do it anyway! Switch off your computer monitor when not in use, turn off the water when brushing your teeth, it’s the little things that add up… spread the word… it’s Earth Day… there’s only one Earth and we have to keep it healthy!
Catch you back here tomorrow! If you get a chance, check out my photo blog !
Fred and I were in Maine, we were at a bakery across from the Farnsworth Museum when we spotted this poster in the window entitled “Homer” by artist JAMIE WYETH. It was shortly after our Jack Russell Terrier (JRT), Reginald, passed away after 14.5 years. We missed him. He was a smooth coat JRT unlike Homer. But this painting was a reminder of his spirit. We don’t usually buy posters, but this one we had to have… the little guy has such spunk. Now we have a rough coat JRT (“Charlie”) who looks amazingly like this painting, except that his face is half light and half dark. He’s a trip! Jamie did such an awesome job of catching every nuance of this breed of dog.
Yeah, I know… Awesome, isn’t it? Fred and I first met Tim on Monhegan Island, ME in 2006. When we first ran into him he was set up in front of the Island Inn. Gutsy! Then I watched him paint… wow. I told him that I was just starting to paint and he gave me tips and explained what he was doing and gave me many many book titles to read. I had so much information, I scribbled my notes inside the pages of Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Paintingby John F. Carlson that I had run to the Lupine Gallery to buy! This painting, Monhegan Evening was from that trip. The sun was setting, and Tim was sitting on a big rock, talking and painting away… WHOA!
Congratulations to Tim, he appears in PLEIN AIR magazine, Spring 2011 – It’s on the stands NOW… Barnes & Noble, etc. etc. I’m going to run out and get one this weekend!
Tim Bell is a painter in the American Impressionist tradition. His work reflects the influences of painters such as John Twachtman, Charles Hawthorne, Hovsep Pushman and Henry Hensche.
A graduate of Frostburg State University, Tim conducted his post-Graduate studies at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis, Maryland and the Cape Cod School of Art in Provincetown, Massachusettes.
Timothy Horn, a California artist that can paint “normal scenes” such as a street with a stop sign, and make it come to life. Much like Colin Page, where he can paint something I wouldn’t dream of painting and it turns out to be awesome! A true talent. Timothy Horn is a great artist, if you haven’t been to his website lately check it out! Check out the workshops, the many gallery links as well as the available paintings.
This painting is entitled LOOKOUT and is under the RESPINI tab on his website. Here’s a quick explanation – more detail on his website: Since 2003 I have been participating in the annual exhibit “Ranches and Rolling Hills” which is a benefit for the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. As a participant in this show I have access to approximately 40 ranches in Marin. I have visited many of them and painted on maybe a dozen.
If you get a chance, check out Tim’s website… enjoy your day, it’s going to be a beauty!
SIMPLY. BRILLIANT. I saw this and now I want it…! I love to bake, and I have measuring cups and measuring spoons, but look at this… made by TOVOLO, the handles of the measuring cups are measuring spoons! Brilliant! Then… the part that I love the most that makes you think WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?!!! is the little rubber ring that the measuring cup can sit on. I have a silicone spoon from these people and I LOVE IT. Bought it at a little kitchen shop in Mount Pleasant, SC. I use it daily and each time I reach into the drawer to pull it out I think WHAT A GREAT PURCHASE THIS WAS!
Ok, maybe I’m a bit dramatic? Humph!
Happy Monday everyone! I’ll catch you back here tomorrow…
BEEP BEEP BEEP… this is a public service announcement… A reminder that at 2AM it’s Daylight Savings Time… so before you go to bed tonight (or if you’re like me, you’ll do it now so you won’t forget and then you’ll be early for everything… ugh) set your clocks ONE HOUR AHEAD… (and YES, if you’re wondering… I did have to say… “Spring forward/Fall back” to be sure I had that straight. Otherwise this would be a very very bad public service announcement, now wouldn’t it?) Other than the alarm clock, remember the microwave, the stove and every other gadget in the world that doesn’t know how to miraculously change the time all by itself!
Are you one of those people who for weeks after the time change keeps thinking… “but it’s really…”” (i.e. it’s 8pm, but it’s really 7pm)? I’m curious… am I the only one?
Does anyone know why we change the time? Well I did some reading on this and there doesn’t seem to be a clear definition as to why. There are many theories but they don’t all agree. Which can only mean the reason we have Daylight Saving Time is BECAUSE… THAT’S WHY! My very professional opinion and I’m sticking to it!
BEEP BEEP BEEP… This ends the public service announcement. Good day…
MMMMM, I am thinking of a Taco Boy salad right now… sure sounds tasty, it’s much more than “just a salad”, it’s an experience! Really. Oooolala, with those tasty thin tortilla chips and a side of guacamole, ohmygosh! A treat that can’t be beat!
We took a break last night, sat down, and turned on the TV… what does Tivo have to offer us on this fine evening? Hmmm, Army Wives… Cool! First show of the season. Guess where part of it was filmed?? INSIDE TACO BOY! YAY! Good for them!
If you haven’t been to Taco Boy yet… RUN… don’t walk! I’ll probably see you there sipping on my half sweet half unsweet tea (It’s DESSERT!), munching on those oh so wonderful thin tortilla chips dipped in guacamole, salsa or for the heavenly treat… QUESO! Take a peek at their menu, it’s too hard to decide which tasty dish to order! Did I mention how cool the place is? They took an old run down building and transformed it into an ultra cool place to hang out with friends, or just your sweetie. Don’t take my word for it, head on down to Taco Boy. We have yet to visit the one on Folly Beach, but it just won the BEST OF CHARLESTON 2011 for best restaurant on Folly Beach! Congrats to ya man!
CHARLES SOVEK, great artist, super nice guy… I can’t remember who stumbled across his website first, me or my dad… It was FULL of information. An artist that SHARES his knowledge, WOW! I devoured his information, he made it look so easy. I ordered the BASICS book and received the nicest postcard from him and a note written inside. How truly thoughful was that? I will treasure that always. Charles Sovek passed away June 8, 2007. While his website remains full of the information he provided years ago, we will miss his constant updates and wonderful paintings!
This painting entitled “Backyard Vignette” is 9×12 gouache on board. It’s one of our treasures… Fred surprised me with this painting one day. We always looked at his website and picked the ones that we would buy if we could… and tada… one day, there it was! If you get a moment check out his website www.sovek.com , you can still order books and DVD’s and SEE all his wonderful work. There are so many paintings on this website it will boggle your mind!
If you’re like me and you like to cook… a good pan is essential. One that has worked for me for years and years is my Le Creuset French Oven. I have the 7.5 qt and that puppy is heavy, but that’s why everything that is cooked in it does so well. It’s great for big pots of soup, stews, just about anything… I’ve used it over and over and over, and I think it has now bit the dust. Partly my fault (boo hoo) I guess… The finish started to come off the bottom mostly, or so I thought… I took it to a local kitchen store, where they told me to clean it with Bar Keeper’s friend, and it would be good as new. They also told me it was OK to use regular stainless spoons, etc. I started scrubbing, the thought disgusted me that this was hardened cooked on food stuck to the bottom of my pot. UGH. I scrubbed and scrubbed and it started to come off… OHMYGOSH, like a new pot… then I started up the sides where it was about an inch high of the same and then I stopped dead in my tracks. This isn’t hardened food, this is THE FINISH. Oh, boo… the pot is no longer non-stickish… it’s super stick’ish. So I’ll save for another one day. For now I’ll wish I would have visited the LeCresuet website sooner!
With that being said, I highly recommend this pot. You see all the chef’s use it, it’s quality stuff! Just don’t use Bar Keeper’s Friend or any other product that can scratch the surface INCLUDING stainless spoons… use wooden, ugh.
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