Charleston Photo: Lucky Chalm at Crosby’s Seafood…

Lucky Chalm at Crosby's Seafood near Folly Beach
Lucky Chalm at Crosby’s Seafood near Folly Beach

There is nothing better than the deck party at Crosby’s Seafood… where you can grab a plate of fried shrimp and sit on the dock… its a great time especially around the time of sunset when you can get some amazing photographs! This photo happened to be taken earlier in the day… Crosby’s has fresh shrimp, fish and oysters as well as bait, beer and ice! Check it out if you’re in the area!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…      Daylight Savings Time ends… Set clocks BACK one hour… 

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Charleston’s Fine Art Weekend and a fine example.. the Wentworth Mansion by Jennifer Smith Rogers!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Fall back… and add an extra hour to your day!

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Well Daylight Savings Time is coming to an end in this part of the country, which means you get an extra hour of sleep, never a bad thing, right? Don’t forget to set your clocks, watches, oven, microwave, etc. back one hour before you hit the hay!

What are you going to do with this extra hour? I think I will probably wake up at 4AM instead of 5 for the next foreseeable future! Might as well get up and enjoy the day, right? I’ll catch you back here tomorrow, and I promise to be very well rested, hee…

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       CFADA FIne Art Weekend begins TONIGHT in Charleston, SC! (2012!)

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Eat for a better memory… the conclusion!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Happy Halloween! Is this a spectacular painting or what?!

Ann Getsinger Library Pumpkin DowlingWalshGlry
Library Pumpkin by Ann Getsinger
[Image: DowlingWalsh.com]

H A P P Y    H A L L O W E E N ! ! !

Trick or treat!? No tricks only treats… woot woot! Have a great night!

(Painting by Ann Getsinger…  Image from Dowling Walsh Gallery!)

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…      An artsy halloween! Pumpkinscape by artist Jamie Wyeth!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…  IS THIS REAL? WHOA? Happy Halloween!

I love fall!

Charlie walking on the Greenway... Charleston, SC
Charlie walking on the Greenway… Charleston, SC

Fall is fabulous… my absolute favorite time of year! The days are getting cooler now… soon the time changes and we get an extra hour of sleep, woohoo! Charlie especially loves it because in addition to walking in the morning, he can get a walk in after dinner. We always feel better if we move after we eat… can’t just sit!

Hope you all have a wonderful week

F L A S H B A C K       

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       Art websites with small images = frustration…

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Wanted Halloween costume wearing patrons… Taco Boy! (2011)

Catch you back here tomorrow!

My other half… the sweetest man in the world… truly the love of my life…

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Frederick Stroud. My other half… the sweetest man in the world… truly the love of my life! Yep, those statements all describe my husband! He’s the nicest guy with the biggest heart.

Love at first sight… and today is his birthday!

         Happy Birthday to you!!

Happy Birthday to you!!

         Happy birthday de-aaaar Fre-eeeeed!

Happy Birthday to you!!…

         …and many more!

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Oh, how I love those blue eyes and that gorgeous smile! Happy Birthday Fred! Wishing you the best birthday ever! xoxo, me

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…      Happy Birthday to the love of my life!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…  Woohoo! To the love of my life… it’s your day!

A Halloween sky…

Truly a walk to remember...
Truly a walk to remember…

Look at this gorgeous sky reflected in the water… kind of Halloween’ish isn’t it?  This photo was taken while out walking… nothing fancy, it was the reflections that really caught my eye!

Enjoy your day!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       I am officially an adult… Eat for a better memory… week 3!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   A pumpkin patch, Halloween candy and great memories!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A fabulous October sky…

October sky... Charleston, SC
October sky… Charleston, SC

We see some magnificent sunsets in Charleston, SC. This one was no exception. I wonder why the sunsets in October seem to be over the top? This particular sunset had people pulling over to snap photos… gorgeous!

Wishing you a lifetime of beautiful sunsets!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       Featured Artist… Alfred Peter Frank Sanford!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Want to play Santa? A tax deductible way to have a blast… (2011)Here is the link for 2013http://palmettoproject.org/families-helping-families/fhf-lowcountry/

Catch you back here tomorrow!

[f e a t u r e d a r t i s t ] L y n n D u n b a r !

My Pet Chickens by Lynn Dunbar
My Pet Chickens by Lynn Dunbar

Such bright vivid colors make Lynn’s work so happy to look at! These chickens have ATTITUDE! Lynn captured the light perfectly… this is a great painting!

Anderson's View II by Lynn Dunbar
Anderson’s View II by Lynn Dunbar – Image: AmericanImpressionistSociety.org

This painting was accepted into the American Impressionist Society’s 2013 show held at M Gallery of Fine Art (soon to be named Principle Gallery). Fine work indeed! If you’re in the Charleston, SC area, you can still see this painting, the show runs through October 30, 2013!

Read a blip about Lynn from the Malton Gallery website:

Everything we do through out our day influences our moods and actions. Viewing art can set the tune for an entire day. I believe that people should surround themselves with art that makes them feel good and emits positive energy.  A good piece of art can take us out of ourselves and transport us to a different season, place or time.

Landscapes and color are my passion. I travel the back roads looking for new places to paint.  One of my favorite things to do is to hike in the woods. The forest surrounds me, holds me, and envelops me.  Standing amidst the encompassing forest trees is an awe-inspiring experience, bringing me closer to my higher power. When I paint the landscape, I hope to create a scene that one can walk into and feel. Feel the light, feel the dimensionality and the universality of nature. The hues I see are intriguing, and it seems like the harder I look, the more colors I see. 

Eventually the high wears off and I go back to my studio and paint.

After graduating from Purdue University, I was an advertising art director for many years before picking up a paintbrush.  Painting has been therapeutic to me in dealing with the loss of my son to childhood cancer.  I donate a portion of my proceeds from the sale of each painting to Childhood Cancer Research. 

Over the past few years, I have been lucky enough to study with Wolf Kahn in Vermont, Skip Whitcomb in Colorado and Michael Carter in Kentucky. I was honored to be one of the featured artists in the book “Painting Indiana ll” published by Indiana University Press.

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       Coastal Carolina Fair Begins Tonight (2012)

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Artist to watch… Karen Smidth – a bazaar artist in a  very good way!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

[house plan] – Architectural House Plans – Porch Cabin DM-001

ArchitecturalHousePlans.com
ArchitecturalHousePlans.com

This is a fabulous cabin style house plan with a generous screened porch. I think it’s reminiscent of something you would see on Sullivan’s Island, back in the good old days… the cool, old cottage/cabin with character. This is the Porch Cabin house plan from Architectural House Plans and it is Plan ID Number DM-001, designed by Dale Mulfinger, FAIA SALA Architects, Inc. I can just imagine how much time we would spend on this porch. Every waking moment…  I would love to plop this on a nice piece of land where we would be on the water and see gorgeous sunsets. Heaven on earth!

This plan is roughly 1,879 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, as well as a host of fabulous details… Keep in mind with these photos, this is one person’s home, but the possibilities are endless… I happen to like it just the way it is! This home was originally designed as a vacation home near a lake in Minnesota. Nice, huh? It is a favorite among a lot of people and has been built all over the United States. It would fit in beautifully in Charleston, SC…!

ArchitecturalHousePlans.com
ArchitecturalHousePlans.com

Mudroom, pantry, fireplaces… ahhh, the “things I love” about this plan are getting mighty lengthy. It’s a perfect size to use as a house or a vacation home. The fact that there is a place to take off your shoes and coat, especially in colder climates is wonderful. A pantry off the kitchen… LOVE IT! That would be a dream! Fireplaces upstairs and down make this one cozy house in the winter. Here are a few images of the interior of one house that was built…

ArchitecturalHousePlans.com
ArchitecturalHousePlans.com

Can you imagine how wonderful this porch would be? Grab a book and a hot tea, sit and look out over the yard, or the water or wherever you may be situated… Gorgeous!

ArchitecturalHousePlans.com
ArchitecturalHousePlans.com

I KNOW! Gorgeous, right? Just look at that fireplace! So cozy. This plan has got so many wonderful details. It really helps to see an interior image… some of us aren’t so great at visualization!

hp porch cabin kitchen ahp
ArchitecturalHousePlans.com

Fabulous kitchen, great light, wonderful in every way! Remember… pantry is around the corner! I might extend the kitchen into the dining room, maybe put a larger island, and have a smaller table or eat at the island… I like my counter space, but that’s me…

ArchitecturalHousePlans.com
ArchitecturalHousePlans.com

A garret is another name for a loft or attic… I certainly wouldn’t call this an attic… When I showed my husband this plan, he said, he would probably leave the top floor off, having two bedrooms would be great… until I showed him the next photo! Then we decided it would be our bedroom as long as we could walk up and down the stairs!

ArchitecturalHousePlans.com
ArchitecturalHousePlans.com

How cozy is this??!! Look at that fireplace… the built in bench seat with storage… what a wonderful room!

Check out the ArchitecturalHousePlans.com website! You’ll be amazed at the beautiful homes just waiting to be built!

All images via  ArchitecturalHousePlans.com

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       Featured Artist (and a big congratulations) to Marc Hanson!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Paula Deen’s Healthier Macaroni and Cheese recipe!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

 

[featured artist] D A N I E L A L D A N A !

Vines at Night by Daniel Aldana
Vines at Night by Daniel Aldana

Daniel Aldana has a fabulous style. I love his loose textured brush strokes as well as every subject matter he paints. This guy is good. I love his story, as told by Roger’s Gardens Fine Art Gallery. It shows how strong a passion for art can be. I think it’s great that he followed what he really felt in his heart… I think this is a good reminder to us all to be passionate about what we choose to do in life if at all possible!

That yellow light against the darkness of the house is stunning! It wasn’t easy to only pick a few, so be sure to check his website out for yourself!

The Morning Heat by Daniel Aldana
The Morning Heat by Daniel Aldana

Another nice painting! Can’t you just feel the warmth from the sun? Lovely in every way! Be sure to check out Daniel’s blog, its wonderful!

Also… an article that was in Southwest Art magazine – A Passion for Plein Air – Meet 12 Artists who honor the landscape by capturing it in person: Daniel Aldana is one of those artists!

Read a blip about Daniel from Roger’s Gardens Fine Art Gallery website:

Daniel Aldana is an early career artist living in Southern California. He has had a lifelong love of art and like many artists, spent his childhood drawing. After high school he attended a small liberal arts college and majored in art. His primary interest was art history and figure drawing. Unlike many artists, he then decided to go to medical school.

He attended Yale School of Medicine (1989-1993), which gave him ready access to a large Art school where he took classes between his medical studies, and to New York City with its art collections.

He began to paint during his internship, the first year of a three-year specialty training in pediatrics, and would paint when he had a chance (despite work weeks that sometimes stretched more than 100 hours).

After specializing in pediatrics at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, he taught hospital management of children and evaluation and management of child abuse victims. His academic and patient-care activities left little time for painting, and when he married and had his first child, he found that the time with his family was also getting squeezed.

With the support of his wife he began a plan to leave his practice of medicine and become a full time artist. In the spring of 2005, he took a plein air painting class and became enamored with the challenges and opportunities of painting outside and realized that it afforded a setting to grow as a painter. That summer he began to paint full time.

Since that time Daniel has become a Signature Member of Laguna Plein Air Painters, received numerous awards and has become one of the leading plein air painters in the region. Daniel is one of the permanent artists on display throughout the year at Roger’s Gardens Fine Art Gallery.

All images via DanielAldana.com

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       A Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe… Just Like Grandma’s!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Pink Sky in the Morning…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston, SC Voted #1 by Conde Nast Traveler Readers for the 3rd year in a row!

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Woohoo! This is exciting news for Charleston, SC! Conde Nast Traveler readers have voted our city NUMBER ONE in the United States for the third year in a row! No easy task!

So thank you to all who voted, and thank you Conde Nast Traveler!!

From Conde Nast Traveler’s website:

CHARLESTON

Readers’ Choice Rating: 83.2

Culture: 84.5
Friendliness: 84.3
Atmosphere: 86.4
Restaurants: 86
Lodging: 82.1
Shopping: 75.1With “sand, sun, history, good food, and friendly people,” Charleston is a consistent hit with the travelers who venture to this “gracious and beautiful” city (in fact, it’s taken first place our list of Top 10 Cities in the United States for three years now and been rated as the friendliest). Nearby beaches and impressive architecture draw visitors, but it’s the “insanely nice” locals who enhance “magnificent” bed and breakfasts and “amazing shopping.” “The charm of this city brings me back every year,” praised one devoted fan. “The food, history, architecture and people are wonderful,” said one reader. “A bucket list city!”

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       Featured Artist… John Cook!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Harvest Festival at the Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA Oct 22-23, 2011!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

[featured artist] – Robert LaDuke!

Painting by Robert La Duke
Painting by Robert La Duke

Robert (Bob) LaDuke has some of the coolest art… what an imagination! Fun, happy, wonderful work that truly makes you smile! Check out his website for more information…

Robert LaDuke home w moon rl fb
Painting by Robert LaDuke

This is another fabulous painting… it just feels like a good old fashioned happy home to me, complete with a full moon, lights on inside the house, cool old car, fabulous tree… I love this painting… and did you notice Bob’s signature… way cool!

Robert Laduke pumpkin truck
Painting by Robert LaDuke – Daily Paintworks…

Robert also paints some fabulous smaller paintings that can be purchased through Daily Paintworks – Robert LaDuke, these paintings have so much character and they are FABULOUS! Most are sold, so don’t hesitate if you really love a piece!

Read a blip about Bob from his website:

Robert LaDuke’s paintings are identifiable for their crisp, clean style and colorfull scenes. Painting professionally for over 20 years, he began his journey as an artist by attending the School of Art Institute in Chicago. He received the Presidential Scholarship to attend.

His first gallery show was in 1996 at Mendenhall Gallery in Pasadena, CA and he has been showing his work ever since.

All images via RWLaDuke.wix.com or Robert W. Laduke Facebook

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       Is this brilliant or what? Screened Garage Door!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Artist to watch… Greta Van Campen!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A Mackinac Island Treasure!

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Isn’t this the sweetest house ever? I like to refer to it as “my house” (it’s not!) on the West Bluff, Mackinac Island, MI… Many of the homes are very, very large… this one is just right! I love the screened porch, and the view… are you kidding me? Heaven! This is near the Pontiac Trail for those of you who are familiar… I love that little trail… breathtaking views!

Have a great weekend!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…      Fall is in the air and on the door!

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…  Eat for a better memory – 7 ways to stay sharp, would you like a cup of joe?

[ h o u s e p l a n ] New Vintage Lowcountry a Southern Living Plan…

New Vintage Lowcountry SL-1831 [Image: Southern Living House Plans]
New Vintage Lowcountry SL-1831
New Vintage Lowcountry (SL-1831) is a 2,735 square foot home with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 fireplaces… this is an exclusive design for Southern Living by Group 3 Design. This plan is larger than most that I feature… it’s not too big, and the space is well used. This home looks like it could be in a quaint village where it has lived happily for many years… it takes tact to design a home that is new that doesn’t look so new. This home has charm and character… Lets take a peek…

Main Floor
Main Floor

This is a nice open plan. I like the way that the kitchen looks into the great room, and I love the office near the kitchen (with a separate entrance!). When I’m cooking I run back and forth from the computer (with my recipe) to the kitchen and its handy that way!

I have to say I really would enjoy the nice screened porch off of the great room. Wow, what nice air flow in the nice weather months… open all those doors and let the fresh air in! It would be dreamy to have a fireplace on the screened porch… get all comfy in your chair with a good book, a roaring fire and a cup of hot chocolate… ahhhh, life is good!

Upper Level
Upper Level

The upstairs is nice, but for just the two of us, I would probably make the study a bathroom, and make the two bathrooms into storage… and then have one bedroom with the treadmill for bad weather workouts and the other bedroom for guests! Either that or pick a bathroom and work around it…

Nice plan, huh??

All images via Houseplans.SouthernLiving.com website – check out their site for more info!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       Featured Artist… Peter Fiore

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Meatless Monday: Giada’s Pasta Ponza!

Catch you back here tomorrow!