Aren’t these paintings OUT OF THIS WORLD?? They’re so fresh, so different, colorful yet peaceful, I absolutely love them. The painting above is entitled “BELOW SONORA PASS” and the one below “395, NORTH OF MONO LAKE”. I found this artist in an unexpected place. I was on Serena and Lily’s website (home furnishings, bedding, etc.) and they have something called a BAZAAR, where they collect neat things from around the globe… I clicked on the ART tab, TRULY not expecting to see what I call fabulous art and whoa! There she was… Karen Smidth has paintings on Serena and Lily’s Bazaar (click HERE) that are breathtaking. MANY are sold, you have to act fast! I’m telling you… this girl is good! (See, now you know what I meant when I said Karen was a bazaar artist… Serena and Lily Bazaar)!
Image: KarenSmidth.com
Karen is a graphic designer/artist who was born in Denmark, then moved to the United States. Here is a bit about Karen from her WEBSITE:
EDUCATION
1976-80 journeyman hot metal typesetter, ringkobing, denmark 1980-82 the graphic arts institute of denmark, copenhagen 1985-86 the academy of art, san francisco 2004-07 part time student at college of marin, kentfield, ca
after many years of working as a graphic designer, i am now focusing some of my energy on painting and drawing.
my paintings are about seeing, as well as being an attempt to understand the world around me. what ends up on the surface is a product of a my discoveries.
Well done Karen! I wish you much success you certainly deserve it!
Healthier Mac and Cheese recipe… hmmm. I know right now you’re thinking well how good can THAT be? Low fat cheese, yuck. Well, actually I’ve been making mac and cheese for years with Cracker Barrel 2% Extra Sharp cheese and it has FLA-VOR! I don’t quite have it down pat when it comes to making a rue and adding the cheese, it curdles, from what I’ve read I need to use a combination of different cheeses to prevent that from happening, and that’s exactly what she does. So give it a whirl! Thanks to the Doctor Oz Newsletter that sent this out and of course, thanks to Paula for another fabulous recipe!
Paula Deen’s Healthier Mac and Cheese
Dr. Oz challenged celebrity chef Paula Deen to transform her favorite dishes by cutting the calories and fat in half. By using low-fat cheese and milk, Paula Deen’s Healthier Mac and Cheese keeps all the cheesy flavor of the original recipe without destroying your diet.
2 cups whole wheat or regular elbow macaroni (8 oz)
2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (8 oz)
1/2 cup low-fat evaporated milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain well and transfer the pasta to a large bowl. Add the cheddar and stir until the pasta is coated and the cheese has melted.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, eggs, sour cream, mustard, salt and cayenne pepper. Add the milk-egg mixture to the macaroni and cheese and stir well to combine. Scrape the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the parmesan evenly over the top. Bake until golden brown and crispy around the edges, 35 to 40 minutes.
I know “Red sky in the morning – sailors take warning, red sky at night – sailors delight” but what is a pink sky? Beauty! That’s what! This photo was taken several years ago when we spent Thanksgiving at Amelia Island in Florida. The weather was perfect, the meals were to die for, the accommodations… HEAVEN and the sunrise on the beach each morning… WORTH. GETTING. UP. FOR! You can see the silhouette of the big Christmas tree to the right, can you believe that’s just around the corner?! Eek!
Go get your Christmas shopping done, hee hee… KIDDING! Enjoy your week! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Harvest Festival at the Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA
Hey, if you happen to be in the area of San Francisco I certainly wouldn’t miss the HARVEST FESTIVAL going on this weekend (Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23, 2011) at the Ferry Building! It sounds like it’s going to be a great time. Here’s a little info from their website (I urge you to visit it!). Here is a blip from their website, a wee bit of the history, much more on their WEBSITE:
FERRY BUILDING HISTORY
The Ferry Building Marketplace is a people’s marketplace serving residents and travelers alike. Located within the historic Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street, shops large and small celebrate food in all its forms, offering everything from artisan cheeses to the freshest of local fish. Restaurants and cafés serve cuisine representing the quality and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s
The Ferry Building Marketplace is located along the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street. It is the center of a transit hub that connects all of San Francisco’s neighborhoods and the surrounding bay communities. The marketplace is accessible by MUNI, BART and Ferry Boat. The historic trolley cars (Line F Market) stop directly in front of the Ferry Building. For more information about how to get here,visit the parking and transportation page or read our FAQs.
Hey! It’s not too late! There’s still time to catch this show at the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, Maine! I first saw Greta’s name mentioned while reading Colin Page’s Journal (if you haven’t read it… it’s addictive, this is one VERY talented artist, who shares a wealth of information). Greta’s work is so different. I am impressed. This is one girl with some energy! She has a great WEBSITE and BLOG. She’s in a fabulous gallery, the DOWLING WALSH GALLERY. So if you are fortunate enough to live anywhere in the Rockland vicinity and haven’t seen Greta’s show yet… I would find a way to make it over there…
Here’s a blip about Greta from the Dowling Walsh website:
Greta Paints America
“Over the course of 2011, I plan to visit all 50 of the United States and paint a portrait of America. The act of painting helps me to look more closely and honestly at all that is around. I want to explore contemporary America, while also learning about the history of the land and people in our country. I want to meet individuals from all walks of life and listen to their stories. My goal will be to preserve and share the experience of paying close attention to all that I see and learn by capturing it in paint. A car will serve as my main mode of transportation, but I’ll also be traveling by plane, bus, rail, boat, and foot. I want to begin the project with loose guidelines: one year, 50 states, oil paint, an open and curious mind, and the desire to learn, listen, explore, and look closely. Hopefully, if I hold true to those guidelines, the project will develop organically, leading me to many great discoveries!”
Greta will have a solo exhibition at Dowling Walsh Gallery from Friday, September 30th through Sunday, October 30th, 2011.
One more image… from Dowling Walsh’s website… check them out for more!
Coffee has been shown to improve memory, reasoning and reaction time in older folks.
Good news for lifetime coffee drinkers: Long term consumption’s
been linked to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Finally a good reason to have a cup of coffee in the morning! I am excited about grabbing my morning cup of coffee and sitting with the newspaper. It’s my favorite time of day. It’s my meditation time…
After doing a little research on coffee and Alzheimers it appears that YES, the coffee has to be caffeinated, and for some of us that simply isn’t possible, but if you are one of the people that can drink regular coffee by all means! An article I read from http://www.alzheimerspreventiondigest.com had this to say:
Your morning cup of coffee may protect you from a variety of diseases, from Alzheimer’s to diabetes to Parkinson’s. Several studies have suggested that regular consumption of caffeine reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
But there is a catch, it seems. A cup or two are not enough to produce the optimum benefits, according to Dr. Gary Arendash, a leading Alzheimer’s researcher who has been studying the effects of caffeine on the brain. He says 500 milligrams of caffeine – equal to five cups of coffee – seems to be the amount necessary to produce a protective effect. According to Arendash, “I drink five to six cups a day religiously.”
Read the full article HERE – a few tips from that article:
COFFEE DRINKING TIPS
Drink it black. You’ll get more health benefits from coffee if you skip the additives. Okay, I know some of you can’t imagine anything other than a Grande caramel macchiato, but just try it plain!
Drink it early. Most folks find drinking coffee later in the day can keep them up at night. Find your “cut off point” and skip the coffee after that time to avoid insomnia.
Drink it fresh. To maximize the flavor and prevent oxidation and loss of nutrients, coffee is best when fresh-ground.
Drink it in moderation. Sure, the experts say you’ll get the most benefits from 5 or so cups a day, but listen to your body. You may need to keep your coffee consumption at a lower level to feel your best. Coffee may cause digestive problems, jitters or insomnia in certain people, so cut back if you have any side effects. Doctors also recommend that if you’re pregnant or being treated for some medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, it’s best to avoid or restrict caffeine.
Don’t forget that tea also contains caffeine (A cup of black tea has about half as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and a cup of green tea has about a quarter as much) and other beneficial compounds, and is less likely to produce side effects.
OK, last week was BLUEBERRIES, hope you are getting your fill! Today is COFFEE, wonder what it will be next week? Catch you back here tomorrow!
When you buy POMI tomatoes in a carton you’re buying tomatoes with no BPA in the packaging, no preservatives, citric acid, artificial flavor or water. Just tomatoes. BPA. Bisphenol-A. Once thought as harmless has been undergoing closer scrutiny. It’s in many plastic bottles (which is why we see the emergence of so many “BPA Free” plastics). What everyone doesn’t realize… it’s also in the plastic lining of cans… such as cans of tomatoes, soup, vegetables, the list goes on and on… There is a good article (click HERE) regarding the fact that BPA dangers may be worse from cans vs. plastic bottles… What can you do? Buy cartons or buy from companies who don’t use BPA in their cans, I believe EDEN FOODS and TRADER JOE’S. Hopefully by now there are more, but check it out. It can (possibly) cause many problems INCLUDING breast cancer… (read the article for further details). The best thing to do is not eat out of cans. That can’t always be done, but you can limit the amount of food eaten from cans. MAKE YOUR FOOD. Instead of buying a (processed) can of soup, it’s much healthier to MAKE your soup. Let me tell you… SOUP IS EASY. It just requires a little time and you will have one big pot that you can freeze into individual servings or eat for several days. It will end up being more cost effective if you make it AND you’ll know exactly what’s in it! Let me know if you know of any other BPA-free companies that have canned goods.
I really enjoy paintings done of interiors. I love to get a glimpse into other peoples homes, it’s kind of like taking a home tour without going anywhere. I appreciate other people’s style and design (well, most of the time!) Karen Lawrence is an artist from Atlanta, GA who primarily does interiors. They’re fantastic. She does paint other subjects, but interiors are what she’s known for. What drew me to this painting was the gorgeous deep dark greens that you see through the window next to the bright light. This painting is entitled SUMMER SUN.
It appears that Karen is in the midst of updating her website (we always appreciate an up-to-date website when we aren’t close enough to pop into a gallery and see the real thing! For now click HERE for a link to see her work. Her original website is http://www.karenlawrenceoils.com – check back in a bit, give her a chance to update! Here’s a blip from the temporary website:
I paint every day in my studio at Tula Art Center in Atlanta. That is, when I’m not out photographing beautiful homes and meeting the people who live in them. I’m intrigued by how people live and the common thread that connects us with our past. I love houses with history and rooms filled with beloved treasures.
The elegance of a curved archway, the drama of tall ceilings and open French doors, the intimacy of an overstuffed chair with a good reading lamp – are all elements of scenes waiting to be painted. For me, the other essential element is light. I’m especially excited by the play of bright sunlight streaking across the floor or warm lamplight drawing one to a comfortable place.
After wrestling with the perspective of a foyer with multiple archways reflected in mirrors or chair legs that don’t want to cooperate with my paintbrush, I relax with the tranquility of a vase of flowers on a table. I find still life very comforting. I love the colors reflecting on shiny surfaces and the freshness of garden flowers backlit by sun pouring in my dining room windows.
My style of painting is a rather loose version of realism. I spent thirteen years developing my style and technique in watercolors. Since 1997, I have been painting almost exclusively in oils.
Karen is in several galleries click HERE for a list from her website… Catch you back here tomorrow!
If you’re on the Meatless Monday bandwagon, you don’t have to feel deprived. LOOK at this dish. This recipe is all good! Fresh simple ingredients, quick to throw together, not using many pots/pans. You’re simply roasting the tomatoes, cooking the pasta and mixing! This pasta paired with a nice fresh salad sounds TASTY! I’m going to serve mine on a salad plate to help trim calories. Our dinner plates these days I swear used to be platters back when I was young. You can load a lot of food on a modern plate… back to the salad plate for me! This recipe came directly from Giada’s website. ENJOY!
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.
Place the tomatoes, capers, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in the prepared baking dish. Toss to coat. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the tomato mixture. Drizzle the top with olive oil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden. Cool for 5 minutes.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Place the pasta in a large serving bowl. Spoon the tomato mixture onto the pasta. Add the cheese and toss well. Thin out the sauce with a little pasta water, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Pasta Ponza is from Giada’s cookbook “Giada at Home: Family Recipes from Italy and California” available at booksellers everywhere! She’s got an amazing website as well, click HERE to check it out!
Visiting the porch of the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI
Like I said yesterday… beauty everywhere you look. There is an amazing water view from nearly everywhere you stand. I love this island! Catch you back here tomorrow!
I love geraniums. They have a way of making something drab come alive. I especially love this salmon color, something a tad different from the typical red. This shot was taken on the way to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI. My mom, sister and I were there for a little R&R in between my mom finishing chemo (YAY!) and beginning radiation… We had the best time ever. We spent a few hours at the Grand Hotel and had so much fun! Bring your camera with you to the island, there are so many photos to be had. It’s difficult for me to focus when there’s so much to photograph, ha ha…
Enjoy your day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!
Chris Groves has got an eye for art. His paintings are breathtaking. Most (to me) have that rare old world look to them. This one is a bit different, this one is looser, but is so awesome. Chris has his work at the Horton Hayes Gallery downtown Charleston. This is one beautiful gallery and his work fits perfectly within its walls.
Here’s a blip from the Horton Hayes Gallery. If you’re in the area, stop in the gallery, if not they have an excellent website! I just love his pieces from Italy!
Chris Groves’ love of art grew from his early experiences with nature and the introduction of a master sculpture in his youth.
Groves was born in Boulder, Colorado, but soon moved with his family to Slidell, Louisiana. Those early years in Slidell were spent outside, exploring the woods, swimming in the bayou, boating, fishing, playing with snakes and other wild animals. It was during those years that Groves learned to love the outdoors and nature.
At the age of ten, Groves’ family returned to Boulder where he continued his exploration of nature with countless hikes, mountain climbs and camping trips. His parents gave him a nature-drawing book and Groves latched onto it as a source of awe and inspiration. He would spend countless hours copying the drawings and enhancing them with his own interpretation. His parents, recognizing their sons’ talent and appreciation of art, hired a private tutor to instruct him in basic techniques. Soon, Groves’ interest turned from nature to people. Groves looked to magazines, friends and siblings as a source of inspiration and drew detailed portraits of their faces.
In high school, Groves met sculptor, Glenna Goodacre, the mother of a school friend. Meeting with her and seeing some of the success she enjoyed as a artist (Vietnam Women’s memorial, Sacagawea US Dollar design) helped to inspire Groves’ own artistic aspirations.
After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.F.A. in Environmental Design, Groves spent the next ten years as an art director for two large companies, all the while continuing to study and hone his fine art skills.
Groves has studied at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy, the Colorado Academy of Art, the Loveland Art Academy, the Cottonwood Art Academy and the Denver Arts Students League. He also enjoyed a private, two- year mentorship with artist Jay Moore, which he considers a turning point in his artistic career.
I ran across a great article from Reader’s Digest magazine. You know, that oh so conveniently sized magazine that easily slips into your purse in case you get stuck somewhere and need something to read!? Some of us don’t want to constantly look at our phones. I prefer the actual paper magazine… same with books, but that’s me. Reader’s Digest has fantastic articles, one being EAT FOR A BETTER MEMORY – 7 WAYS TO GET SHARP. I would like to know anyone who doesn’t need to know this information. None of us wants to suffer mental decline. It happens to the best of us, it’s part of aging, BUT there ARE things you can do to become “sharper”… From Reader’s Digest:
Boost brainpower with blueberries.
Studies have shown blueberries help prevent and reverse age-related memory loss.
Did you read that… PREVENT and REVERSE?!!!
When I looked into this further there was a study that included blueberries, but a few other things I thought I would share… From ABCnews.com
Scientists published a study adding more fuel to the growing belief that exercise boosts brain health. She said research has long shown that exercise is beneficial for brain function and memory – this study helps show why.
John Grohol, a clinical psychologist and founder of the online mental health resource PsychCentral.com, said that exercise is one of the best things you can do to keep your brain healthy. “This study just adds to the evidence that physical activity can enhance and keep our brains healthy,” he said.
Regarding blueberries… here’s what they had to say:
This week, scientists published research suggesting that antioxidant-rich blueberries could improve memory in older adults.
The study, involving scientists from the University of Cincinnati, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Canadian Department of Agriculture, included volunteers in their 70s. One group drank the equivalent of 2 to 2.5 cups of blueberry juice every day for two months. The control group drank a blueberry-less juice.
The scientists said the group that drank blueberry juice demonstrated improvement on memory and learning tests. “These preliminary memory findings are encouraging and suggest that consistent supplementation with blueberries may offer an approach to forestall or mitigate neurodegeneration,” the report said.
Diet – A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in January 2009 found a definite link between caloric restriction and mental function.
Meditation – “People who meditate, research has shown, have a better ability to cultivate positive emotions,” Grohol said. “In doing so, they help maintain their own emotional stability which helps with overallwell–being and brain health.”
In May, Psychological Science published a study indicating that a certain type of meditation may help the brain hold on to images for short periods.
New Experiences – “The brain seems to really benefit from novelty and new experiences,” said Grohol. But instead of paying money for so-called brain games that may or may not be effective, Grohol suggests people can just do crossword puzzles or play Sudoku games. Learning new languages and other similar pursuits are also good for the brain.
So have a bowl of oatmeal with blueberries on it (I never thought that sounded good until I tried it and ohmygosh!!!), take a walk or jog around the block, learn something new and then sit down and meditate.
That’s a lot to absorb, but every little change we make can help, right?! Ok, instead of talking the talk, I’m going to walk the walk… headed to make some oatmeal & blueberries now!
Catch you back here tomorrow, and again next Thursday for the next installment on foods to eat to stay sharp!
Ooooh, Wild Alaskan Coho Salmon, Shells with Brie and Asparagus along with Martha’s Tomato, Basil and White Bean Salad. A delicious dinner that was quick to prepare. I had made the bean salad a little earlier in the day. It’s so easy and the taste is beyond belief (as I mentioned in Monday’s post), but the longer it sits the tastier it is! The salmon and the shells with brie/asparagus came directly from Trader Joe’s freezer section. AND the salmon is boneless and skinless as well. Fred cooked the salmon. I know a lot of people like it rare’ish… I like mine crispy with no chance of flipping around… this just had a little butter on it, then was sautéed in olive oil, with salt and pepper and a little squeeze of lemon juice toward the end. The frozen shells with brie I wasn’t sure about. It sounded good at the time, but hmmm, you never know. It was good! It’s a small package and says serving size is 2 and it was PLENTY! This is an example of a good dinner put together in no time! What are some of your favorite “quick to throw together” meals?? I’d love to know!
I love to introduce artists that you might not run across… good ones, artists that are unique… I would like you to meet Maine artist, Tom Curry. This is a fabulous pastel on paper entitled BOAT HOUSE, I love the orange undertones, its a very striking piece! It’s at Gleason Fine Art in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. If you’re in the area, check him out! If not, check out Gleason’s website, he’s under the CONTEMPORARY ART section. The artist also has a FABULOUS website, (click HERE)… so check him out! Here’s a blip from his website (the Artists Statement):
Life on the Maine coast is charged with a brilliance, a wildness. The waters are a living green ecosystem, radiating wonder. There’s an urgency to my work because so many of these places are being lost to development.
Nature, ever changing, offers countless compositions. I want to evoke a place, time and atmosphere in my work. The natural world is my big studio, filled with opportunities to observe nature and explore its seamless miracle. Open air painting is a selection process: this sky, these waves, this foreground. It’s not a fragment, but a series of experiences not limited to space and time like a photograph. Many places feel sacred to me, places where the landscape evokes a sense of stewardship and reverence.
I have worked with pastel more than 20 years. The medium’s fluidity and immediacy allow me to capture the ever changing light, water, and atmosphere. I often return to work in the same locations with infinite daily results.
Many artists influence my work: Ferdinand Hodler, Wolf Kahn, Marsden Hartley, Tom Thompson and Rockwell Kent. I also find inspiration in Jean Baptiste-Camille Corot’s paintings of the Italian countryside, as well in the work of Edgar Degas, Fairfield Porter, Edward Hopper and Rockwell Kent.
ARTFOODHOME.COM 