Out and About

Wekiva River
30x30 inches
oil on Birch panel
2000.00
shipping 95.00
Purchase on my web site HERE

I've been home in the studio for a week, so I decided to get out for a drive today with my dog Henry (AKA Studio Dog) We headed out to Evinston, one of my favorite places in the world, about 40 miles from my house. We stopped at the Wood/Swink first, Florida's oldest working post office, to chat with Freddie and Sue, my good friends who own and run the post office and store. It is a wonderful place, here everyone meets to catch up on neighborhood news and to pick up fresh produce from Freddie's gardens. Today I bought a huge head of Romaine Lettuce, just beautiful, along with carrots fresh pulled from the garden,red onions and sweet potatoes. There were rows of beautiful purple cabbages, vine ripe tomatoes and fresh beets there as well. My purchases cost me a hole four dollars!! It is the place for fresh produce in this part of the world.

We made our way down the road to Fair Oaks Farm, a paradise for nature lovers and painters. The color was flabbergasting for me after having been away traveling for over a month. When I left in late February, everything on the farm was brown and rust colored. Today on arrival, it was emerald green, just spectacular!!! I do so love the seasonal changes here in North Florida. Henry and I took a lovely walk around the farm, deciding that it was just too windy to paint today. We will go back tomorrow, hopefully in calmer weather. The pond was an amazing turquoise blue and green and had beautiful purple and white Iris blooming profusely at the edge. What a great time to be there. Thanks to my dear friend Rick for allowing me to enjoy this beautiful farm. I feel so privileged to be there whenever I want to go.

I'm going to roast the lovely carrots I bought at the Wood/Swink tonight,leaving them whole, first coating them in a bit of olive oil, fresh thyme,salt,pepper, the onion I bought, diced,a few slices of ham, and a couple of whole potatoes. I'll put them all in the cast iron skillet in the oven to slow roast, and make a pan of corn bread. Then I'll make a simple salad from the lettuce I bought with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. There is nothing better for dinner than that!! Yummy!!

Restaurant Review

Sunday I spent the day out with my two daughters. We had a lovey day of shopping and then took a break for food at a new restaurant,downtown in Gainesville, Florida. It's right on the corner across from the state attorney's office, and there is a parking lot next to it for great parking. It is called the Big Burger

It is a charming little place with walk-up counter service and take out. The dining room is cute with black and white tiled floors, red topped tables and chairs in the old retro style, and very nice urban and musical themed posters on the walls. It is very clean. The food is very good. The burgers are homemade to order, there is a nice variety on the menu, including about 10 burger combinations in various sizes, salads, vegetarian food,hot dogs, various side orders, and a good Philly Cheese steak and Chicken Philly. The chicken wings are excellent, not greasy at all and they come with a nice variety of toppings. They offer a New York style cheesecake for dessert. What else would you need? The prices are extremely reasonable and they also have a special. I met the owner who was charming and gracious. The staff is friendly and the service is very good. A winner for a small limited menu restaurant.

Big Burger
352.380.0001
21 West University Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 32601
Web Site HERE

The Wood Swink and Wood Farm

The Wood Farm
12x16 inches
oil on panel
framed
800.00
shipping 50.00
Purchase HERE

The Wood Swink Post Office is the oldest working post office in Florida. It is an icon for this part of Florida and we landscape painters know it well. It is a combination antique store, post office, and produce market. It is a complete step back in time. The center of the store has a wonderful old wood stove. Chairs are grouped around it, and a checker board is strategically located where anyone can start a game. There is one of the old large metal drink boxes in front. I always have to buy a drink so I can use it. Visitors from around the world stop to post letters there and to enjoy the camaraderie they find there. It is like a second home to me. I paint there in the back from time to time and at any time I will see other painters because we all love it so much. Wilma Sue and Freddie allow their artist friends to show small paintings there and I enjoy a sale now and then. This is not one of those fake tourist stores, or a museum. It is a real step back in time, a working country store from the 1800's.



The store and post office is run by Wilma Sue Wood and her friend Deb. Freddie Wood, Wilma Sue's husband, is a farmer in the little town of Evinston where the post office is located.




Freddie's farm is prime painting territory for me and the other lucky artists who know him. Freddie grows lush crops of vegetables, including squash, collards, field peas, broccoli,tomatoes, and many other yummy vegetables. All these are available year round in the store. Freddie raises fat happy cattle on the farm. The farm is beautiful beyond description, with tall graceful palms and giant Live Oak trees, which border Orange Lake. In the afternoon, the views are simply stunning, with the golden light and long purple shadows. This is a place above all others I am fortunate to paint. I have free access to all parts of the farm and can wander to my heart's content. It is magical and sacred for me. A part of the history and legend of north Florida.



There is a story that Mr Wood killed Mr Swink in a gun fight out in front of the store over a woman in the 1800's and that is how the store became the property of the Wood family. To this day it is still called the Wood Swink.

I have a mission and dream to turn Evinston into an art destination. Freddie has an old very large packing house next to the store which would make a wonderful art center/gallery. He has an old shack on the farm which could be made into a nice cabin for painters to stay in and use for workshops. I keep hoping that a cultural private foundation or private donor will come forward to help. This old historical town needs to be saved and made into a wonderful destination for art lovers and painters.

You will find the Wood Swink Post Office on County Road 225 which runs parallel to US 441 beteen the little towns of Micanopy and McIntosh, Florida. Traveling south from Gainesville on US 441 go past Micanopy about 5 miles and you will see a green sign for Evinston, Turn left there and the road will dead end at CR 225. Turn left on 225 and go about a block to see the store on the left. You can't miss it!! They close for lunch from 12-2 PM M-F Open Saturday AM, closed Sunday. If you go, tell them that Linda Blondheim sent you and be sure to look at my paintings in the store.