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Thursday, June 25, 2009

June 25, 2009 Linda Blondheim Studio Newsletter


Fair Oaks Farm View
20x24 inches
acrylic on panel
wired and ready to hang unframed
1600.00
shipping 95.00
Purchase HERE

Linda Blondheim Art Studio
Landscapes of The South
http://www.lindablondheim.com
lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726

Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.

Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
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June/2009
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It's All About Melrose in July
Come have a hot dog and see my North Florida Muse Show in July at Melrose Bay Gallery

Melrose is an old town here in north Florida. It is a lakeside, bedroom community
for Gainesville and quite artsy in populous and style. Well known architect/author
Ron Haase and Florida mixed media painter Harriet Huss live there along with several
local artists. There is a lovely little local gallery on State Road 26 called the
Melrose Bay Gallery, and another called Bellamy Road. They seem to be connected
in that they often have themed shows together. I am to have a one woman guest show
there next month, featuring my North Florida Muse Series.

There is a fair amount of Victorian architecture there with a couple of nice parks
and the lovely lake Santa Fe dotted with old cypress trees and boat houses on stilts.
It is a scruffy old town full of character, with some newer upscale homes carefully
landscaped. There is a quaint little strip shopping center with a coffee house,
some gift shops, bait and tackle shops and two or three restaurants, around town
from down home, to pizza, to the elegant and interesting Blue Water Bay Restaurant.
By elegant, I don't mean the facility, which is a typical looking seafood restaurant.

What I mean by elegant, is the attention to detail, with white linen cloths, real
linen napkins, fresh flowers at each table, outstanding bar and restaurant service,
and delicious and interesting cuisine. I took my mother and sister there a few months
ago. In the fall and winter we like to go on day trips around north Florida. They
are able to see the places I go to paint and live those experiences with me for
a day. We had shrimp and Grouper with sides of Mango cole slaw and red beans and
rice, both absolutely delicious. The fish and shrimp were cooked to perfection,
just done. The plate presentation was nice, the dessert key Lime Pie was excellent
and tart with real whipped cream, and the coffee excellent.

They have a full bar, separate from the main dining room, which is a nice idea.
The bar is dark and cozy, with booths for dining as well. I was also quite impressed
that the wait staff was very knowledgeable about local activities, and the restaurant
history. Our server was attentive without being annoying and very solicitous to
my elderly Mother. I appreciated that so much.

The walls were decorated with art from local artists and that made me happy that
they support the artists in their community. There were colorful and interesting
stained glass fish in the windows to brighten the restaurant with splashes of color.
It was an outstanding dining experience.

Melrose History

Although the Bellamy Road was built through this area in 1822, settlement was very
slow until after 1842, with the conclusion of the Indian Wars. The original settlement
was about a mile south of present day Melrose around a mill site on Etoniah Creek.
It was called Banana as there were many banana trees growing along the creek banks.
A post office was established prior to the Civil War. Mail was brought via boat
up the St. Johns River to the Oklawaha and to Orange Springs. Then it was brought
overland to Banana. This post office was closed during the Civil War and reopened
later.

Sometime after the Civil War, families began to settle around Melrose Bay, an inlet
off of Lake Santa Fe. Initially, the new community was called "Shake Rag". This
name came from the many horse races they used to hold. To start or end a race, they
shook a rag, hence the name, "Shake Rag." On May 10, 1877, a plat was recorded in
Alachua County naming the community, "Melrose." It has been speculated that the
area women desired a more dignified name for their community and named it for Melrose,
Scotland.

As settlers found Melrose, new ideas abounded. In the early 1880's, a group formed
to build a canal between Lake Santa Fe and Lake Alto to the west with another canal
from Lake Alto to Waldo which was located on the railroad. This gave them transportation
to northern markets for their crops. In turn, northerners found Melrose a delightful
place to spend the winter. Soon, Melrose was a lively and bustling community. Until
the great freeze of 1894 winter, this area had been the center of the citrus industry.
After the freeze, this area practically stood still for many years. However, we
are fortunate that many of the homes from Melrose's heyday have survived. We have
72 structures contributing to our Historic District which is on the National Register.

http://melrosefl.com/mbca/
http://www.melroselanding.org/
http://steelesherbgarden.com/
http://www.visitgainesville.com/attractions/item.aspx?id=78
http://www.thebluewaterbay.com/
http://melrosebayartgallery.com/home.html [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=jmvlu7cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0404&p=http%3A%2F%2Fmelrosebayartgallery.com%2Fhome.html&id=preview]
http://www.bellamyroad.org/
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Tips to Beat the Heat



I'm not much of a summer person. I don't like yard work. If I had a boat, I would
enjoy fishing and boating. I force myself to mow the yard about ever three weeks.
My sister and I do it together with an old fashioned electric mower. It really works
great. Studio Dog doesn't handle heat well at all. He has trouble breathing when
it gets hot, so I can no longer bring him to town with me or out to paint anywhere.
I feel tired in the summer for some reason and not highly motivated. I suppose
it is a down time for me. I spend the summer hiding in my air conditioned studio
and work on large paintings. I'm not complaining mind you, it's just not the time
of year I enjoy the most.

This year is especially brutal with temps over a hundred already. I did some research
on the Internet about Beating the Heat and came up with the following I want to
share with you:

From www.ehow.com,www.associatedcontent.com and www.everydayhealth.com

Cook your meals outside on the grill. This is a great way to beat the heat and stay
cool. You can get some charcoal and lighter fluid for under ten bucks at most stores.
Keep yourself stocked up and cook your food outdoors. The oven going inside a house
makes it really warm and in the summer time this can be uncomfortable. You will
also save a little on your electric or gas bill. Make a plan to cook your meals
at least a couple times outside on the grill every week this summer.


Eat cold cuts instead of hot sandwiches. If you plan to cook inside, try to make
meals that you don't have to use your oven to stay cool. Better yet, plan meals
that don't require the food being hot at all, like sandwiches and salads. Leave
the warm food to the grill on outdoor cooking days.


Stock your freezer with plenty of ice and your fridge with lemonade, sweet tea,
and water to stay cool and beat the heat. These are the best things to drink in
the summer time and keeping your body refreshed can help keep you stay cool.
Stock your freezer with ice cream and popsicles too. Instead of having cake or pie
for treats have popsicles or ice cream for a less filling, more cooling refreshment.
You could even make some fruit smoothies.


Don't rely on just your air conditioner. Break out those fans to beat the heat and
stay cool or go pick up a couple. This will also help your electric bill out and
keep the air flowing through the house. You can even raise your temperature a couple
degrees on the thermostat and with the fans rolling the air around you'll save some
money and you won't even notice.


Don't wear black or dark colors. It's summer time anyway, time to be happy, cheerful,
and energetic. The darker your clothes are the more attracted the sun will be to
you and make you hotter. White, yellow, orange, blues, and greens are great colors.
Make sure when you go summer shopping to beat the heat you keep these thoughts in
mind and purchase light colored clothes made out of thin material to stay cool.
You may also want to pick up a pair of sandals or flip flops so you don't have to
wear socks.


Take advantage of the windy or cooler days to stay cool. Keep up with the weather
so you can plan your outdoor events accordingly. It would be much more fun to have
a picnic when it is 75 outside instead of 85 and trust me, just a five to ten degree
difference will make a difference.
Open the windows on cooler summer nights and turn off the air conditioning. Keep
your fans going for a nice refreshing evening. This will also give your house a
chance to "air out" and it always feels so peaceful when you wake up hearing the
birds and smelling that fresh morning dew throughout the house.


Stay downstairs to beat the heat and stay cool. Since heat rises, the lower part
of your home will be the coolest. If you have a finished basement you may even
want to plan family fun time down there.


Turn off the lights. Lights also put off heat so take a look around and turn off
any excess lights. Use natural light from the windows during the day, this will
also save you some money.
Summertime means swimming, golfing, boating and trips to the lake. All of these
things can contribute to heat exhaustion if you are not careful. When your having
fun, especially swimming, it is very easy to realize you are getting overheated.
There are several precautions you can take to
One of the most important things you can do is use sunscreen when you are outside.
A sunscreen with a high SPF is the best. Wearing a hat is also a good idea. Don't
forget the lips! You can buy lip balm that has SPF in it.
Try to avoid being in the sun at the hottest part of the day which is usually 12:00
p.m. to around 3:00 p.m.

Drink plenty of fluids. Water preferably. Sodas and even sports drinks are high
in sugar and sodium and is not the best choice for hydration. Simple water is the
best.

Keep cool! Try to stay cool when you have to be outside. Have a fan or something
nearby to keep you cool. You can even by a handheld fan that sprays water. I use
that a lot when I am laying out by the pool.

Be sure to make time for a break. It is important to rest and get cooled off and
drink plenty of water. I know it is hard for some of us, but it is really important
to pace ourselves when working outside. You can buy a cool wrap at your local store
that you wet and wrap around your neck. It is a great way to keep cool.
Do things in early morning. When you can, it is a great idea to do yard work and
other activities in the morning when it's not as hot. Try to avoid doing your outside
activities during the hottest part of the day.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke
Heat stroke can come on suddenly, but warning symptoms often appear first. They
include:
Abdominal cramps
Muscle cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Headache
Dizziness
Weakness
Heavy sweat or a lack of sweat
When heat stroke starts, neurological symptoms can include:
Odd or bizarre behavior
Irritability
Delusions
Hallucinations
Seizures
Coma
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E-Classes for Artists

As many of you know, I am making a transition from real time to virtual teaching
for 2010. This is the last year I will be teaching art camps in my studio or teaching
workshops. My focus is on my own painting and teaching students online. There are
many advantages to teaching online. I can schedule time for myself and my students
at both our convenience. I can devote more one on one time to my students, giving
them a better understanding of the subjects we study. There are no geographical
barriers between us. I have students in North Carolina, Texas, California or anywhere
for that matter.

My classes are designed for 6 weeks. I have a private blog for students and we post
on that blog together. There are four lessons for the first four weeks and the last
two weeks are used to catch up on assignments, discussions, critique and Questions
and Answers.

My upcoming class, beginning July 6th, is for acrylic painters or other medium
painters who want to paint with acrylics. It focuses on my research on making acrylics
look like oils.

I schedule a new class after each class is completed.

Linda Blondheim E-Classes-
Color Mixing the Southern Landscape for Oil Painters
Color Mixing the Southern Landscape for Acrylic Painters
Values in the Landscape I
Composing and Design in Landscape Painting
Values II- Notan and Design in Values
Painting Basics for Acrylic Beginners
Painting Basics for Oils Beginners
All E-Classes are designed for a 6 week schedule. 4 Weekly Lessons and Assignments
with 2 extra weeks for catch up, Q&A and discussion.

All classes are designed for either beginning or Intermediate painters.
If you have ideas for more E-classes please request them.
Six Week E Classes are 100.00

http://www.lindablondheim.com/publications.php
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Notes From the Pochade Box

An Adventure With Two Friends


Sunday I took my two friends Sarah Carey and Lindy Brounley to Fair Oaks Farm for
their first painting adventure out on location. My two friends Buddy and Joy, the
farm dogs, came to greet us and we settled in to do a painting each. They did a
better job than I did, but the fun for me was simply being with good friends. We
enjoyed painting and then packed up to tour the farm in a golf cart. Studio Dog
would be furious with me if he knew I went to Fair Oaks without him. He loves the
farm so much, especially riding round in the golf cart and running beside it. Don't
tell him I went without him. While we were on safari, we saw a beautiful doe hiding
in the woods, and lots of beautiful wild flowers growing in the fields. Lindy knew
the names of all of them. She lives on a farm and is quite knowledgeable about plants.
It was the first time I've driven around the farm since summer, so I was surprised
to see how it looks in summer. Lush is really the best description. The fields
are full of tall grasses and lovely colored tall lavender colored flowering plants.

We finished our lovely day together by eating at Blue Highway in Micanopy, a delightful,
funky restaurant with outstanding food and service, located on US 441. Great Food!!
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How About a Recipe?

Latin Chicken Stew
1 fryer cut into pieces
Marinate for 15 minutes with lime juice, salt pepper and chopped garlic

Dice:
one green pepper
one jalepeno pepper,remove seeds
2 tomatoes
1 small onion
1/2 small pineapple with skin and core removed

Saute in EVOO

Add chicken to saute pan.

Add 1/4 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup browned chicken stock
simmer until tender
add :

1 T chopped cilantro
1 T chopped parsley

Combine 2 T corn starch with 1/4 cup browned chicken stock + 1 T dark rum. Blend
thoroughly and add to stew. Stir stew to make sauce.

Serve with rice pilaf

Cook's Tip:

Make browned chicken stock with chicken bones. Place bones in a roasting pan and
roast them with salt,pepper and thyme until they are crusty and brown. Roast at
about 300 degrees. Deglaze the pan with water and put bones and juice into a pot
of water, simmering for an hour. Strain stock into zip freeze bags and store in
the freezer.




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Linda Blondheim
Linda Blondheim Art Studio

Join Our Mailing List [http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1102546521380&id=preview]
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July Special Celebrates Plein Air
My plein air studies are featured for July. You can find them on the small paintings
page at the bottom, on my web site.


8x10's- 110.00 ( Normally 125.00)

6x8's- 65.00 (Normally 80.00)
To purchase the special, email me lindablondheim@gmail.com [mailto:lindablondheim@gmail.com]
and write special in the subject line.

Offer expires July 31,2009

Saturday, June 20, 2009

New Landscape Painting E-Class For Acrylic Painters

Linda Blondheim E-Lessons-

I offer the following E classes:

Color Mixing the Southern Landscape for Oil Painters

Color Mixing the Southern Landscape for Acrylic Painters

Values in the Landscape I

Composing and Design in Landscape Painting

Values II- Notan and Design in Values

Painting Basics for Acrylic Beginners

Painting Basics for Oils Beginners


All E-Classes are designed for a 6 week schedule. 4 Weekly Lessons and Assignments with 2 extra weeks for catch up, Q&A and discussion.

All classes are designed for either beginning or Intermediate painters.

If you have ideas for more E-classes please request them.

Six Week E Classes are 100.00


My Current Online Class - I have 8 spaces left.

Giving your Acrylic Landscape Paintings an Oils Quality


I have been working with acrylics for about 10 years now having come from an oil painting experience of about 30 years. My goal at the outset of my acrylic experience has been to make them look as close to my oils in style and color palette as possible. This has been no small challenge, as they are entirely different mediums with very different technique. The tube color, though named the same is quite different too between the two mediums.



My technique has at last caught up with my desire and has become fairly seamless with my oils. In fact, many of my patrons are drawn to the acrylic paintings first, thinking they are oils.



This unit of study is based on my research and technique to specifically emulate an “oil like” look to acrylics.



This class is designed for experienced painters who have either studied oils or acrylics or perhaps both, but who have been unsuccessful in keeping a cohesive look to both mediums. It is for anyone who is dissatisfied with their current acrylic work, either due to palette disharmony or due to flat tight brushwork and hard edges.



Beginners are welcome, but it may be difficult for you. If you are an advanced painter, this may be too easy for you. This is designed for painters who know basic acrylic technique but are ready to move on a bit further. You must have a digital camera or scanner to take this class as we will be posting images of our exercises and paintings to the blog.



We will be using a private blog for this class. You will be given an invitation to be an author on the blog and you will receive automatic email updates for comments to each weekly lesson. We will post our comments under the lessons in the main post and view each others’ exercises and paintings as we move along. I will of course, do critiques for you each week for the group to see.



Our focus for this class will be brushwork, edgework, color mixing, and glazing. I will post studio notes relating to technique, and use my own paintings as a visual aid for the class.



This is designed to be a four week unit of study, but I realize that we are all busy and tied up with life. I will post a new lesson each Monday on the blog. You can either do them weekly or you can play catch-up over a period of 6 weeks. I am building two extra weeks into the course for those of you who need it. The lesson will be up for 2 weeks after the last one is posted and I will be reading the blog during that two week for comments and to give critiques.



The blog will have a format of the assignment and my notes each Monday. The comment section is for all correspondence of questions and answers. Post your images on the blog as new posts and I will edit them and critique under the images of your paintings each week.



I will critique one painting a week per student in addition to the class. This is not required, but is given to you as an extra perk.



A class outline and materials list will be given to participants



The fee for the class is 100.00 for the 6 week class, which includes 4 lessons, critiques, and all Q&A you desire.

This class will be limited to 10 students. As soon as it fills we will begin.

You can pay online at my artist resources page at http://www.lindablondheim.com with pay pal or
If you prefer to send me a check or money order, that will be swell too.

Linda Blondheim

3032 NW 161 Court

Gainesville, FLorida 32609

Friday, June 19, 2009

Notes From the Studio



Paynes Prairie State Park
20x24 inches
oil on birch panel
Wired and Ready to Hang Unframed
1600.00

See my paintings HERE

My Place in the Art World

I got to thinking today how lucky I am to be just a country painter from the South. With so many artists climbing the ladder to fame and recognition, I realized that I'm ok with where I really am. I live in the country where the birds sing, the Armadillos rustle around in the bushes, and I see a deer or two on the paths where I like to walk with Studio Dog. I have an unassuming little block studio behind an old mobile home and I want for little in life other than the latest new easel or paint box.

I spend my time painting on the ranches,rivers, sand dunes and in the Smokey Mountains now and then. This is what I do and I'm happy for it.

I do admire big named artists and artists who wish for fame and work hard to get it, but I don't really want to. I have found myself in my beloved north Florida. I put my trust in the people who love the land here in the South as much as I do and I know they support me and my work. I am committed to working hard in the studio and in the fields to produce the best work I am capable of. I trust that others will identify with my work and my love for my subjects and wish to support me by owning my paintings.

I leave the quest for fame and celebrity to artists with more ambition. I'm just glad to be here in my little place.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Linda Blondheim Studio News June 18, 2009

Linda Blondheim Art Studio
Landscapes of The South
http://www.lindablondheim.com
lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726
Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.
Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
(I sent a check for 70.00 to a friend who referred a new patron to me last week)
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June/2009
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Let's Go Fishing



Blue Marsh
18x24 inches
acrylic on birch panel


When I was a kid growing up in the south everyone fished and hunted. My Grandma
was an expert cane pole fisherwoman. We would go to Kates Fish Camp near Gainesville
and fish for hours. We liked to catch Bream. They were good eats. In those days
catfish were considered to be trash fish though they are very popular now. Catching
them was the most fun because they fought like Tigers.

Just about every week somebody in the neighborhood would fire up a fryer in the
back yard and invite family, neighbors and friends to a fish fry. We kids would
have fish eating contests to see who could eat the most fried fish and hushpuppies.
My friend's mom could make good hushpuppies. They had fresh diced tomatoes and onions
in the batter, fried crisp and brown. It makes my mouth water to think of them.
Of course cheese grits were on the menu along with sliced fresh tomatoes and cole
slaw. Some of the men were Bass fishermen too and would bring in Large Mouth Bass
filets to add to the Bream. Wow it was good. I really miss those days of neighbors
who did these activities together. The men would stand around the fryer and tell
tall fishing tales, smoking cigars, and the women would be gossiping at the picnic
tables and in the kitchen.We kids ran wild, all over the neighborhood with dogs
of all sizes and breeds.

The tables would groan under the weight of casseroles, pies and cakes. After the
meal, adults settled in around the tables to play cards and board games and we
rode our bikes around the neighborhoods with dogs barking. Pick up games of basketball
and baseball were started, jump roping and games of jacks rounded out the fun.

As a young adult I lived over in Tampa Florida and salt water fishing was the main
focus in that part of the state. I had friends who sailed and we would go out to
places only accessible by boats, hoping to catch Grouper and Red Snapper. We also
dug for clams in the shallow waters off the Courtney Campbell Causeway. In those
days there were some great seafood restaurants in that area, including the Mullet
Inn, and a couple of places in Pasagrille on St Pete Beach. I'm sure they have been
replaced by others by now. The Mullet Inn had the best smoked mullet fish dip I
ever tasted.

I miss fishing. It's harder to find people who still go. Now and then I have a chance
to fish with friends at some of the farms where I paint. I always enjoy it so much.
I don't really care if I catch anything, I enjoy the peace and quiet of fishing
and I love boats and being around the water.


There are some great fish camps around my part of Florida:

Kates Fish Camp
Mikes Fish Camp
Twin Lakes Fish Camp
are just a few favorites for me and camps where I paint from time to time

If you like fishing and want to invite me, I'll go!!!

http://www.floridafishingweekly.com/
http://myfwc.com/RECREATION/Saltwater_index.htm
http://saltwaterfishinginflorida.blogspot.com/
http://www.flfish.com/
http://www.saltwaterexperience.com/


Fromhttp://www.fishing-florida.com/ [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=vh8hm7cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0404&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fishing-florida.com%2F&id=preview]
Recreational licenses and permits for residents and nonresidents are available at
county tax collectors' offices; from sporting goods stores or other retailers that
sell hunting or fishing equipment; on the Internet and by phone at 888-FISH-FLORIDA
(347-4356).
Lifetime Licenses
The FWC issues Lifetime Licenses to Florida residents for hunting, freshwater fishing
and saltwater fishing. Funds generated from the sale of these licenses will be invested,
creating an endowment to support the long-term conservation of Florida's wildlife
and fisheries resources.
For avid sportsmen who want the convenience of securing licensing, once and for
all, for all your hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing activities,
the Lifetime Sportsman's License is for you. Lifetime Licenses will remain valid
for use in Florida even if you move out of state.
For hunters and anglers who like a bargain, the cost of a Lifetime License is less
than what would be spent on annual licenses, permits, and fees. The earlier the
purchase is made, the bigger the savings. The Lifetime License is for parents, grandparents,
and family friends who want to pass on the joys of outdoor recreation to young people
and help ensure that today's youth have the natural resources to share hunting,
freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing with their children.
The Lifetime License is for conservationists who want to contribute to the long-term
management of Florida's natural resources. Only interest from the trust fund will
be appropriated. The principal will be held in perpetuity to ensure future funding
for fish and wildlife programs. This endowment will ensure that Florida's natural
resources are conserved today for the future and that your children can pass on
your family's hunting and fishing tradition to their children.
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Kids Art and Food



Summer Afternoon at Fair Oaks Farm
12x16 inches
acrylic on birch panel

When my two daughters were young, we did a lot of fun projects. Naturally, I wanted
them to respect and enjoy art. Though neither of them were interested in art as
a career, they both respect and value original art as young adults. I buy small
original paintings for them from artists I admire every year. I am helping them
to build a collection of original paintings which they will enjoy in their own
homes some day after their apartment days are past.
When they were little, stations were a popular teaching method in elementary school.
I borrowed that idea for their home environment and it worked really well. I set
up small tables around the room for various art activities. Examples are, crayons
and color books at one, modeling clay at another, jewelry making, watercolor painting,
tempera painting,markers and paper. These little stations were entirely separate.
The easy way to do them is with the wooden TV eating tables placed against the
wall around the room. You can put up a dry erase board for a station too.

Another great station is a library of art books for kids, which gives them an interest
and love for art history. Bean bag chairs and a small shelf in a corner can make
a cozy art station for reading and looking at famous artists paintings.

The next step is a limit to their activities at the stations. This keeps their
interest level high and makes art a reward for them, something special that they
will look forward to.

Make a specific art time weekly or daily and limit it to an hour or two depending
on their age and maturity. Use a kitchen timer and set it for various intervals
for each station, 5 minutes for small tykes, 20-30 minutes for older kids. When
the timer goes off, they rotate to the next art station. They must put their materials
away and straighten up before moving to the next station. (Mom or Dad can help)
After they have spent their allotted time at the stations for the day, reward them
with popcorn and a movie. Don't allow them at stations unless it is preplanned and
supervised. This should be something of a reward and a special treat.

You can do lots of fun station projects with food, like making prints with fish
or potatoes or other vegetables. Kids really love this. Your fish monger will have
a fish with head and tale on to make prints and they are really cool. Paint or
ink the surface of the fish. Flip over onto paper and peal the paper off to have
fish prints.

Cut a potato in half, Carve away sections and ink what is left. Stamp it on paper
for cool prints.

Make art fun for your children and they will grow up to appreciate culture and refinement
in their lives.

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How Should Artists Sell Art?



Salt Springs Run
12x16 inches
oil on Masonite Panel

I started an interesting debate on Face Book this week about how marketing for artists
has changed over the last few years.

I am beginning to question the need for the traditional gallery system which has
dominated the art market for many years. My feeling is that most of us crave more
personal relationships between artists and collectors. As I said last week, many
of my collectors are close personal friends. We have a common love of nature and
the culture of the South.


I am finding commercial art galleries to be less and less important to my career,
so I am considering some changes. It is a hard decision to make, as some of the
galleries have been showing my work for a number of years.

I am very interested in getting some feedback from my patrons on how they most like
to purchase art.

Would you please email me your thoughts on the questions below? I'll send you a
little reward if you will help me ;>)

1. Do you prefer direct contact with an artist, getting to know them as a friend,
or do you prefer to go into a gallery and purchase work without contact with the
artist?

2. Are you comfortable in purchasing art from an artist's web site if you know them
and the artist offers a 100% return policy?

3. Do you like to visit an artist's studio to see work in person or would you be
more comfortable in a gallery setting?

4. Would you feel any differently about an artist's work who is not longer represented
by galleries?

5. Are you aware that artists must pay up to 50% in commissions to their galleries
who represent them? For a 500.00 painting, the artist receives 250.00 from the
sale at art galleries. The artist must also pay the entire framing costs for the
painting.

Without commissions from galleries, artists are able to offer a better price for
paintings. Would this make any difference in your purchasing plans for art?

Answering these questions will help me to make important decisions for my future
as an artist. lindablondheim@gmail.com [mailto:lindablondheim@gmail.com]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How About a Recipe?

Lobster Pasta

2 lobster tails boiled until just underdone. Crack and remove shell. Dice meat in
large chunks. Set aside.
Small dice:
2 carrots
2 celery stalks
1/2 onion

Set aside

Boil 1 box Fettucini in water with a bit of olive oil,salt/pepper. Drain and set
aside.

Heat skillet with 2 T butter
Saute vegetables with a pinch of garlic powder and dried thyme. Add salt and pepper.
Add lobster meat and saute until done. Add 1 Cup heavy cream and season to taste.
Cook down until smooth and creamy. Add one cup of shredded mild cheddar cheese.
Toss with pasta and serve with a salad. Yummy.

Cook's Tip


Using a pastry bag can be messy, whether using icing or any other sticky, runny
filling. Here's how to help make it more manageable. First twist the bag just
above the tip and push the tip into the bag slightly. This will keep the filling
from running out of the bag before you are ready. Next, fold the bag sides down
wrongside out on the top, fitting it down over your hand like a sleeve. After the
bag is filled you can bring up the top and twist it. Don't fill the bag too much.
Doing these two steps will save you from a big mess!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bragging About My Attorney

Recently my sister and I who live with our Mom decided it is time to have our wills
made. No one enjoys this process, but it is one of the necessaries in life to make
life easier for those we leave behind. I'm not planning to depart before I'm 100,
but God has a way of doing things in his time table not mine ;>)


This could have been a very stressful activity but my wonderful Family Law specialist
Rick Knellinger made it so easy and comfortable for us. He is wonderful wonderful!!!
He has the patience of Job and made the whole experience happy and stress free.
His office is filled with paintings,sculpture and antiquities of all kinds. This
is a man who treasures art and artists. He is gentle and kind to all and his staff
and associates are fantastic. What could have been a negative and scary experience
was comfortable for us, thanks to Rick.

If you need a great Family Law Attorney in north central Florida go see Rick.

Law Office of
Richard M Knellinger, P.A.
2815 Northwest 13th Street
Bank of America Building
Suite 305
Gainesville, Florida 32609
http://familyandbusinesslaw.com
knellinger@bellsouth.net
352.373.3334

Sunday, June 14, 2009

A question for Art Patrons

This question is for actual art buyers or for those who would like to purchase art in the future.

If you have the choice of purchasing art directly from an artist through a studio or web site with a shopping cart, OR purchasing from a traditional commercial, brick and mortar art gallery, which would you do?

You can answer the question in the comment section of this blog, or directly to me at: lindablondheim@gmail.com

I am trying to make an intelligent decision on whether to leave the traditional gallery system and sell completely independently or whether to stay with galleries. Your opinion will help me.

Love,
Linda

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Linda Blondheim Newsletter June 11, 2009



Fair Oaks Farm
24x36 inches
acrylic on panel
SOLD


Linda Blondheim Art Studio
Landscapes of The South

http://www.lindablondheim.com [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=kimjf7cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0404&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lindablondheim.com%2F&id=preview]
lindablondheim@gmail.com [mailto:lindablondheim@gmail.com]

Studio: 386.462.5726

Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.

Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Florida is Heaven For Birds

Every year in late winter my mother and I pull up our lawn chairs in the front yard
as we hear the Sandhill Cranes start to circle up and call to each other, packing
their bags and booking flights to depart from Florida. It is an annual treat for
us, going back for more years than I can count. The cranes are beloved part time
residents of our part of the world. I see thousands of them on the prairie and at
the farms in my neighborhood and in Evinston where I love to paint. There is a pair
at Fair Oaks Farm who have become permanent residents. Who can blame them for their
excellent taste in lodging?
I travel to many wild places in Florida and one of the real treats for me is seeing
the beautiful water birds up and down the rivers. The great Blue Heron is a favorite
to me. Last spring at the Wekiva Springs Paint Out I saw many of them on that beautiful
river. We were lucky to have a river boat captain who took us up and down the river
on a large pontoon boat. We took hundreds of photos of the otters, alligators,
turtles and many bird species. One magnificent Blue Heron decided to pose for us
for quite some time, even spreading his wings to show off for us. He was a star
and quite full of himself.
My mother has several bird feeders stationed right outside of our window in the
living room. Her chair is right in front of that window and she spends many happy
hours observing the Cardinals, Tit Mouse, Blue Jays and Sparrows jockeying for position
on her feeders. Then the squirrels run in to wreak havoc and scatter seed everywhere.
The tiny birds shake their fists and hold up protest signs, but the squirrels smugly
know that they will get away with the havoc having no bird authorities to stop them.
The birds write letters to their representatives to no avail. The bird sheriff is
called, but is too busy to come. Things settle back down for a bit and the chaos
begins again. Meanwhile the Hummingbirds ignore the ruckus and dart in and out
among the flowers. They are smugly above the crass goings on at the feeders.

My dear friend and wonderful artist Jean Hood
http://data.fineartstudioonline.com/dataviewer.asp?keyvalue=1584 [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=kimjf7cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0404&p=http%3A%2F%2Fdata.fineartstudioonline.com%2Fdataviewer.asp%3Fkeyvalue%3D1584&id=preview]keeps
a nice journal on her bird feeder goings on in the Texas Hill Country. She posts
it on Face Book each day.



The experts at Bird Watcher's Digest have compiled this informative food and seed
chart to help you attract the birds that you want to your feeders.
Quail, pheasants- Cracked corn, millet, wheat, milo
Pigeons, doves- Millet, cracked corn, wheat, milo, niger, buckwheat, sunflower,
baked goods
Roadrunner- Meat scraps, hamburger, suet
Hummingbirds- Plant nectar, small insects, sugar solution
Woodpeckers -Suet, meat scraps, sunflower hearts/seed, cracked corn, peanuts, fruits,
sugar solution
Jays Peanuts, sunflower, suet, meat scraps, cracked corn, baked goods
Crows, magpies, and nutcracker -Meat scraps, suet, cracked corn, peanuts, baked
goods, leftovers, dog food
Titmice, chickadees- Peanut kernels, sunflower, suet, peanut butter
Nuthatches- Suet, suet mixes, sunflower hearts and seed, peanut kernels, peanut
butter
Wrens, creepers -Suet, suet mixes, peanut butter, peanut kernels, bread, fruit,
millet (wrens)
Mockingbirds, thrashers, catbirds -Halved apple, chopped fruits, baked goods, suet,
nutmeats, millet (thrashers), soaked raisins, currants, sunflower hearts
Robins, bluebirds, other thrushes- Suet, suet mixes, mealworms, berries, baked goods,
chopped fruits, soaked raisins, currants, nutmeats, sunflower hearts
Kinglets -Suet, suet mixes, baked goods
Waxwings- Berries, chopped fruits, canned peas, currants, raisins
Warblers -Suet, suet mixes, fruit, baked goods, sugar solution, chopped nutmeats
Tanagers -Suet, fruits, sugar solution, mealworms, baked goods
Cardinals, grosbeaks, pyrrhuloxias-
(a type of cardinal) Sunflower, safflower, cracked corn, millet, fruit
Towhees, juncos- Millet, sunflower, cracked corn, peanuts, baked goods, nutmeats
Sparrows, buntings- Millet, sunflower hearts, black-oil sunflower, cracked corn,
baked goods
Blackbirds, starlings- Cracked corn, milo, wheat, table scraps, baked goods, suet
Orioles- Halved oranges, apples, berries, sugar solution, grape jelly, suet, suet
mixes, soaked raisins, and currants
Finches, siskins- Thistle (niger), sunflower hearts, black-oil sunflower seed, millet,
canary seed, fruits, peanut kernels, suet mixes
Bird Web Sites
http://www.nsis.org/bird/
http://www.floridabirdingtrail.com/
http://www.florida-everglades.com/birds.htm
http://www.nsis.org/books/books-birds.html
http://www.birding.com/wheretobird/florida.asp
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/usflorida.htm
http://www.floridabirdingtrail.com/birdid.htm
http://www.abfla.com/1tocf/wildlife/birds/Birds.htm
http://www.telescope.com/control/category/~category_id=binocular_birding?id=yho09&OVRAW=NULL&OVKEY=NULL&OVMTC=content&OVADID=13176595513&OVKWID=0
http://bird.ifas.ufl.edu/index.html
http://www.floridabirding.com/
http://www.wildbirds.com/FindBirds/StatebyStateInformation/EasternUSStates/FloridaBirding/tabid/135/Default.aspx
Fair Oaks Farm - Evinston Florida
24x36 inches
acrylic on birch panel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

June 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An Article For Collectors by Tony Moffit

Why Buying Art Online Makes Great Sense!
By Tony Moffitt
In the days of the great Masters; men such as Rembrandt and Vermeer... art galleries
didn't exist.
Instead, the artists of the day worked in their studios. Through word of mouth,
their talents were spread far and wide... and from distant destinations, art collectors
came to see the work and to purchase.
Now, in the 21st century, we've come a full circle in many ways.
Art galleries are no longer the only venue available to collectors of fine art.
More and more, artists around the globe are making use of online resources to take
us back to the days of old; the days when artists could deal direct with clients.
The media is different. Word-of-mouth has been replaced by the internet. An artist's
showroom is not only their studio. It's their Blog and Website.
But though these things have changed, the core benefit remains the same.
For the first time in many, many years, clients have unprecedented opportunities
to deal directly with artists.
Buying art online give clients a wonderful opportunity to make contact with, and
then build a relationship with their favourite artists.
There are no physical limitations.
With the flick of a switch, you can be viewing the work of an artist on the other
side of the globe.
It's a very exciting time for art collectors. And it's an opportunity that should
not be passed up.
The Global Financial crisis has done wonders for the art world. The days of ridiculous
high-end prices are gone. Common-sense has returned to the market. But even more
importantly, a host of new and very talented artists have begun to emerge via the
internet.
There are many thousands of artist Blogs and Websites on the net. They represent
the new way of doing smart business.
Clients looking to purchase art are streaming onto the net. Through online art purchases,
and by dealing directly with their favourite artist, it is possible to save huge
amounts of money that might otherwise be paid in traditional gallery commissions.
The removal of the art gallery middle-man means greater value for purchasers, and
a direct line of communication with the artist.
Technology has facilitated the boom.
With the advent of secure online purchase facilities via companies such as PayPal,
purchasers have unprecedented security to protect their purchases. The days of snail-mail
and cheques have long gone. Now payment online takes place in a matter of moments.
It's safe. It's secure. It's efficient.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Artist and Patron Relationships are changing for the better

I like the new trend I am seeing within the art world. Artists are forming much
more satisfying relationships with their patrons. This was uncommon just a few years
ago. When I was in art school a hundred years ago, you had but two ways to reach
patrons, brick and mortar galleries or street fairs. As art students we were discouraged
from forming relationships with patrons. That was the gallery's job. Most of the
time we had no idea who bought our work and we weren't supposed to want to know.
Galleries projected a sense of elitism about buying art. I believe that has been
their downfall in the more casual living style we prefer today. One of the reasons
I have enjoyed having my work at Paddiwhack Gallery in Gainesville, is because Paddiwhack
is a casual fun gallery with all sorts of silly things, unusual furniture, and beautiful
home decor. The staff is fun and friendly and I always feel welcome there. It's
a happy place.
Since the world has become Internet savvy, artists like me have been able to form
real relationships with patrons. Many of my friends started out a strangers who
bought a painting, but over time we have become close friends. We have a common
love of nature and the land as well as our love for art. We find many common interests
including cooking, travel and a love of Florida and Southern culture. I get to meet
their children and spouses and they are no longer just a name. Friends often see
a painting on the web site and decide to come out to the studio for a good visit.
Last Sunday I spent a pleasant afternoon in the studio with a friend who had seen
last week's newsletter painting and wanted a closer look.


I correspond with friends from all over the country about my art and ship many paintings
every year. None of this wold have been possible just a few years ago. The Internet
has allowed me to have a direct relationship to the people who love my art and there
is nothing better to me than that.

Some artists still prefer to have no contact with patrons. They rely solely on their
galleries to sell their work, preferring be in their studios without any communication.
While I respect them for their desires, I believe they are missing a very important
opportunity to expand their minds and to form genuine, long lasting friendships
with people who are vital and exciting to know. I thank God every day for my supportive
friends who have blessed me in so many ways. It makes me happy to know that my paintings
are in the homes and offices of people who treasure them, and who support my life's
work.


Richardson Farm- Evinston Florida

12x16 inches
acrylic on Birch panel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bartering Makes a Come Back

Bartering was a common way to do business years ago and it makes good sense. It
is going through a revival in interest now due largely to our economic woes of the
last year or two. I have had some success in bartering with my art over the years.
For example, I am trading a future painting with my veterinarian for Henry's care.


Here is a list of things I would barter paintings for, including commissions. Contact
me if interested.

I need to have the exterior of my studio pressure washed and painted.

I need to have the carpet removed from the studio, hauled away and then the concrete
floors stained and sealed.

I need to have the jungle in my yard cleaned out and trees/shrubs trimmed.

I need to have my Mothers mobile home pressure washed and painted.

I need to have the floors replaced in the mobile home.

I need to have the ceiling plastered in part of the mobile home.

I need to have a commode/plumbing for it installed in my studio.

I need a new compact H-Frame Studio easel for my studio.



Here is some information from the University of Illinois web site to help you with
your bartering plans.


Bartering
Even when your income drops, you're not without resources. Take stock of all non-money
resources you have as a family. Among these assets are time, knowledge, possessions,
property and creativity.
Swapping resources with others is a time-tested way to stay in control when money
is tight. Be creative. List your skills, talents, and interests. (Use our Bartering
Ideas worksheet to help you identify these.) Next, try to match your skills and
talents to community needs. Try making your first swap with a friend, neighbor or
relative to build your confidence.
Why Barter?
Bartering helps us stretch our dollars. Family members, including those who don't
have a paid job, can contribute to the family's resources by bartering.
Think about what you'd like help with as well as what you do well. Do you have a
bountiful summer garden? Perhaps you can trade fresh flowers and vegetables for
help with car maintenance? Are you handy with home repairs, but hate doing taxes.
Here's an opportunity to barter.
The challenge of bartering is finding someone who needs your services, and then
setting the value of your service. Some communities have a clearinghouse, civic
groups or publications to help. You may be able to advertise your services through
your church or social organizations.
Determine your expectations in advance to avoid misunderstandings.
Guide to Successful Bartering
Know who will supply needed materials. Usually it is the receiver; but the provider,
in some cases, may have the needed tools, such as a lawn mower. When materials must
be purchased, work together to determine specifics, cost limits, quality of materials,
deadlines and other details that could become irritants.
Don't assume anything. Be sure to agree on the details of exactly what will be done.
Be sure expectations are clear to all. In some cases a contract or written agreement
may be a good idea.
When You Provide a Service
Be sure you are clear on details of expected service. Don't take on tasks that you
cannot do well.
Keep the receiver well-informed on your progress. Inform the receiver also of any
problems or delays.
Decide when the service is to be provided. If needed by a certain date, be sure
you have enough time to do it.
If you receive income from bartering, you may be required to pay taxes on this income.
Refer to IRS Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income, for more information.
If You Receive a Service
Carefully explain what you want and supervise the work. Don't be caught with a completed
job that is not what you expected.
Don't hesitate to check the provider's qualifications.
Make sure the delivery of service is convenient and within the time you want the
work done.
If the task requires your presence or help, make sure you are aware of this.


Paynes Prairie from the Observation Tower
6x12 inches
acrylic on panel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How About a Recipe?

My favorite Squash Casserole


1 large Butternut Squash cut into pieces, seeds removed.
Place in microwave bowl with 1/2 cup water and steam until tender. Peal off skin
and discard.
1 cup sour cream
1 can mushroom soup
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt/pepper

Mash squash and mix well with above ingredients. Set aside.

Mix 1 box Stove Top Stuffing with 1/2 cup melted butter.

Use an oven safe dish. Spray dish with Pam. Place 1 layer of stuffing on the bottom.
Spoon the squash mixture into the dish evenly. Top with the rest of the stuffing
mix. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

Cook's Tip

If you bake a lot it's nice to have flavored sugars. Buy a few large glass jars
with wide mouths and lids. Fill them with sugar. Use various fruit and spices
to insert into the sugar of each jar. I use lemon rind,pineapple slices, peach
peals, orange rind,vanilla bean,cinnamon sticks. It will take a bit of time for
the sugar to be infused but it smells wonderful when you open the lid. These sugars
are wonderful for pies and cakes as well as hot or iced tea.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Linda Blondheim
Linda Blondheim Art Studio

Join Our Mailing List [http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1102546521380&id=preview]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Save 45%

June's special rewards my loyal friends who already own one or more of my paintings.
I want you to know how much I appreciate you. If you have purchased a Blondheim
painting at any time, you are eligible for the June Special.
Chose any unframed 12x16 inch painting in my studio or on the web site and purchase
for only 400.00. The unframed price for that size is normally 700.00.
You can use my layaway plan for this purchase.
Offer Expires: June 30, 2009

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Linda Blondheim Art Studio Newsletter June 4, 2009



Panes Prairie Early Morning
24x36 inches
acrylic on Birch panel
Purchase HERE

Linda Blondheim Art Studio
Landscapes of the South

http://www.lindablondheim.com

lindablondheim@gmail.com [mailto:lindablondheim@gmail.com]
Studio: 386.462.5726

Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.

Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale referral rewards when you send a new patron
to me who purchases.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Linda Blondheim Art Studio
Art Lover Salon
Why Should You buy Art?
1. An original painting is entirely unique. There will never be another like it.
2. Original paintings bring beauty, power and emotion to your living and working
space.
3. Original paintings provide prestige, focus and enhancement to the decor of a
room.
4. Original paintings provide a window to another place and time, allowing you to
travel to all of the places you remember with pleasure. My patrons often think
of my paintings in terms of a portal to nature in their homes.
5. A well crafted original painting is a timeless gift to pass on to future generations.
6. Patrons who buy art now in tough times, are helping to choose the direction of
art movements for the future.
7. Purchasing small works allows you to have art to fit your mood and rotate it
as you choose. Small works are more flexible in your decorating scheme, making
it fun to move little collections around.


8. A large painting will be a signature element in a room, drawing everone's interest.
It is a statement about your vision for your living space.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We All Scream For Ice Cream

I think most of us have a history with ice cream. When I was a child ice cream was
available in drug stores. Most drug stores had a lunch counter in those days and
the "fast food" there was really good and homemade. I remember visiting my grandparents
every year, where they lived in a small town. There was a pool hall down the street
from the drug store. Granddaddy loved to hang around in the pool hall but knew my
grandmother disapproved. He would take me down to the drugstore telling her we were
going out for ice cream. He would bribe me with a double scoop and admonish me
to say nothing to Grandmother. We would go across the street and I would sit on
the bench outside of the pool hall and eat my ice cream while he was inside with
his buddies. In those days adults thought nothing of leaving children unsupervised.
How thing have changed. The ice cream was rich and creamy, no low fat nonsense in those days. I can almost taste that combination of rich cold cream and crunchy cone. There were no waffle
cones then either.


When I was in my early 20's I was a starving artist and took a job as a soda jerk
at Howard Johnsons Restaurant. What an experience that was!! It takes real talent
to do that well. You have to be a showman for the crowds. It took me awhile to catch
on but once I had a rhythm, I was a demon behind the ice cream counter. Making
a soda is a fine art in itself. The presentation is precarious indeed. The scoop
of ice cream has to balance on the edge of the glass and the bubbly soda mounds
up around it. It's like being a TV chef or a fancy bartender. Everything must be
done with a flourish to be a good soda jerk., Dozens of people are waiting and watching
you. You are an entertainer.


I'm sad to see that old style ice cream parlors and lunch counters are rapidly disappearing
these days. They have been replaced by chain parlors like Cold Stone and TCBY. There
are a few around though if you know where to look.

My mother, sister and I meet my daughters once a month at Sweet Dreams in Gainesville.
It's tucked into a corner in a strip shopping center. There are a few tables scattered
outside in front and booths in the shop. It doesn't have much charm in decor, but
it makes up for that with outstanding homemade ice cream, served very efficiently,
but without panache.

They serve some very interesting flavors like bacon and green tea ice cream. I'm
afraid I'm not hip enough to enjoy those. I stick with the old favorites.


My favorites include:
Chocolate
Mint with Chocolate Chips
Peach
Vanilla
Strawberry
Butter Pecan
Pistachio
From Wikepedia:


Precursors of ice cream

Ancient civilizations have served ice for cold foods for thousands of years. Mesopotamia
has the earliest icehouses in existence, 4,000 years ago, beside the Euphrates
River, where the wealthy stored items to keep them cold.] The pharaohs of Egypt
had ice shipped to them.] In the fifth century BC, ancient Greeks sold snow cones
mixed with honey and fruit in the markets of Athens.] Persians, having mastered
the storage of ice, ate chilled desserts well into summer. Roman EmperorNero (37-68)
had ice brought from the mountains and combined with fruit toppings. These were
some early chilled delicacies.

True ice cream

Ice cream recipes first appear in 18th century England and America. A recipe for
ice cream was published in Mrs. Mary Eales's Receipts in 1718.
Ice cream was introduced to the United States by Quaker colonists who brought their
ice cream recipes with them. Confectioners sold ice cream at their shops in New
York and other cities during the colonial era. Ben Franklin, George Washington,
and Thomas Jefferson were known to have regularly eaten and served ice cream. First
LadyDolley Madison is also closely associated with the early history of ice cream
in the United States. One respected history of ice cream states that, as the wife
of U.S. President James Madison, she served ice cream at her husband's Inaugural
Ball in 1813.
Around 1832, Augustus Jackson, an African American confectioner, not only created
multiple ice cream recipes, but he also invented a superior technique to manufacture
ice cream.
In 1843, Nancy Johnson of Philadelphia was issued the first U.S. patent for a small-scale
hand cranked ice cream freezer. The invention of theice cream soda gave Americans
a new treat, adding to ice cream's popularity. This cold treat was probably invented
by Robert Green in 1874, although there is no conclusive evidence to prove his claim.

The next time you are out and about, look for an old fashioned ice cream shop and
take the heat out of summer with a sweet treat!!

Florida Ice Cream Shops:

http://kitchensicecream.com/index.htm
http://www.bigolaficecream.com/
http://www.jaxsonsicecream.com/
http://www.icecreamjunction.net/ice-cream-cocoa-beach-menu.php

There are a lot more but not with web sites.

The Station is a favorite with my family.
Station Bakery & Café
(386) 454-4943
20 NW Railroad Ave
High Springs, FL 32643
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



How about a Recipe?

Roasted Summer Vegetables


2 yellow squash-sliced
2 zucchini squash-sliced
2 tomatoes-sliced
1 onion-sliced
1 cup Parmesan Cheese
3 T olive oil
1/4 tsp chopped leaf thyme or dried
salt/pepper
1 tsp chopped fresh parsley
1 cup bread crumbs
2 T butter

Combine all vegetables in a bowl and coat with seasonings and olive oil.

In a separate bowl combine parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Mix lightly with melted
butter until mixed.

Place vegetable mix in a greased baking pan and top with breadcrumbs cheese mixture.

Bake at 350 for about an hour or until top is nicely browned and vegetables are
tender.

Cook's Tip:


These summer vegetables are full of water. before you make the recipe , salt the
vegetable slices, including the tomatoes and lay out on a sheet pan with paper towels.
Lay them out individually in rows. Cover the tops with more paper towels and let
them sit for a few hours before assembling the recipe. The vegetables will have
better flavor and the casserole will not be mushy or soggy.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hurricane Season Has Arrived

Hurricane Season has rolled around once again. After 2004, when Florida was manhandled
by 5 hurricanes in one year, I prayed to never go through a year like that again.
We spent most of that season without water or electricity and believe me, that
is no small problem. I remember spending hours at laundry mats, waiting in line
to wash clothes. I remember the faces of people I saw there. It was so depressing.
We lost all of our food in the chest freezer and refrigerator. Many roads were under
water, so going to the dump was not an option for awhile. I kept a camp fire burning
to burn all the food and then cook hot dogs and hamburgers. This wasn't a lot of
fun because we were burning in 96 degree temperatures with 100% humidity. I looked
like a leper from the hundreds of bug bites. We ate canned food from the pantry
for awhile until we realized there was not going to be a quick fix of our utilities.
The stores had no camping equipment left.


We would go to the movie theater in the afternoon when it was hot just to get away
from the sweltering heat and bugs. We ate out a lot, took bucket baths and relied
on more fortunate friends in the city for a shower now and then. The heat and bugs
were utterly oppressive. I developed a clear understanding of what it must have
been like to live here in past generations.
I found myself sliding into a severe depression, along with everyone else in my
neighborhood. Living in the country is a clear disadvantage during a hurricane.
We are the last to have utilities restored. We watched the mold and mildew creeping
into our homes and sleeping at night was nearly impossible. A hotel was not an
option for that long a time. They were full anyway. People don't realize how expensive
it becomes to go through a hurricane season with no power or water. We bought gallons
and gallons of water for weeks. My dog Anchor and I set up housekeeping in the front
yard under a large tree. We mostly lived there for about 3 weeks. Florida is not
where you want to live with no power or running water. I can only imagine how hard
it was for the people of Miami and New Orleans when Andrew and Katrina hit.


I've been around hurricanes all of my life and have seen their devastation. As a
child, I remember my parents driving me over to Daytona Beach and seeing all of
the hotel sprinkler pipes hanging out in the air where the lawns used to be. They
were swept away during a hurricane. It was a powerful image indeed. They are not
to be underestimated and that seems to happen with each new influx of residents
from other parts of the country. Katrina brought a lot of national attention to
hurricanes, but long before Katrina, they have been flattening parts of Florida
fairly regularly.
I thought it might be useful to share some information about the preparation for
hurricanes and other natural disasters, since the season officially started a few
days ago.


Good Advice from http://www.gulf-coast.com
KNOW SOME OF THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH A STORM.
· Flooding
Can occur from heavy rains,rivers,drainage ditches.
· Storm Surge
Typically associated with the land falling hurricane.
Depending on intensity of storm, can cover extremely
large areas of coastline, as Katrina demonstrated.
The storm surge typically causes the most deaths associated
with a hurricane.
· High Wind
Roof damage,falling trees,power lines, can demolish entire
homes.
· Tornadoes
Often occur with land falling hurricanes. Can cause tremendous
wind type damage very far from the center of a hurricane in
unexpected areas.

Know what potential hazards may affect you or your home. Flooding potential, storm
surge susceptibility. If your home or residence may flood. LEAVE. Katrina has
given us many stories of people who stayed in their homes and were flooded due to
unexpected storm surge levels.


Step 2.
Start collecting material and supplies NOW. Wood / Shutters for boarding up windows.
Dont wait until the last minute to try to aquire wood and then cut and mount it.
Have it precut and ready to mount. Store it until needed. I know from experience
that trying to hold a 8x4 plywood sheet on a ladder in gusty wind is very difficult.
Who would have guessed that the ply-lock clips used to mount plywood sheets on windows
would disappear off the shelfs as a storm approached.. Prepare Early.
Test your generator NOW and perform any repairs. A generator that doesnt work properly
after the storm is not very helpful.

Step 3.
Have an evacuation plan. While you can not easily say where exactly you will evacuate
months in advance. Have maps available and write down your plans. Ensure your friends
and family know where you plan to evacuate. (Its very difficult to reserve motel
rooms in some areas once people start evacuating. Rooms as far as Memphis, TN become
scarce during large mass evacuations. So make your reservations early. If you plan
to evacuate).


Step 4.
If a hurricane developes. Stay Informed! Do be caught by suprise if a storms path
or intensity changes. We know that a storms path and intensity can change dramatically
in hours. In sometimes, unexpected manners. OBEY your local governments recommendations.
If they suggest you leave the area..seriously consider leaving. Know where local
shelters are setup. Know what is allowed to take to a shelter. Dont just show up
without food or water or blankets. They may not be setup to provide them. They
will be providing a place that's safer to stay in than your home in most cases.

http://www.miamidade.gov/hurricane/
http://www.savannahga.gov/cityweb/SavannahGaGOV.nsf/47b9dd27b9097a5485257296007391cc/7e193ce91809d3f7852573220049d192?OpenDocument
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/index.shtm
http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/hurricanes.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4511001_prepare-hurricane-season.html
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml

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