Latest Press Release- North Florida Muse Melrose Bay Gallery July 2009

North Florida Muse

Linda Blondheim’s new North Florida Muse exhibit at Melrose Bay Gallery on State Road 26, Melrose, Florida is a “must see.”
Dates of Exhibit:
7/01/2009- 7/26/2009

Opening:
Saturday July 11, 2009
10AM-4PM

Gallery Hours:
Saturdays 10AM-6PM
Sundays 1-5PM
Come join Linda for a Hot Dog picnic and enjoy her paintings.
Blondheim is passionate about her beloved north Florida. Her farms and ranches show pristine pastures that house fat cattle, ranging in color from honey to sienna to mahogany and jet black. Majestic, long-armed, mossy oaks and tall, graceful palms guard the cattle as they graze along historic Orange Lake. On the land side of County Road 225 in Evinston, Blondheim paints at graceful and elegant Fair Oaks Farm with her French Bulldog Henry.
Whether she focuses on landscapes, rivers and lakes, or, in her new series, Florida Farms and Ranches, Blondheim throws every bit of her skill into artistically capturing and preserving the South in which she was born, has raised her daughters,and is a self-supporting artist. Blondheim’s paintings about farms and ranches will include such historic land owned by farmer Freddie Wood and his wife Wilma Sue Wood of the Wood Swink Post Office, the oldest working post office in Florida, a combination antique store, post office and produce market. Through her reverent depictions, you’ll be invited to step back in time, pull a chair near the old wood stove, play checkers, and buy a cola out of an old metal drink box.

Says Blondheim, "Freddie Wood and I have a dream to make Evanston [FL} an art destination. There is an old shack on the Wood farm that could be re built into a painter's cabin for visiting painters. The Wood Swink could become a fine gallery for original Florida landscapes. The large packing shed could become an art center for classes and workshops. We hope that a benefactor will come forward to help preserve this wonderful Florida town for artists and visitors.”
Through her north Florida Muse you’ll see beef cattle, feed sheds, barns, packing houses, fish camps, and fields of tall grasses.
Take a pictorial stroll on such horse farms as Town and Country (a thoroughbred breeding facility in McIntosh) and Rabbit Hill Farms located on county road 320, owned by Louise and Kiki Courtelis.
You’ll imagine you hear cattle lowing and owls hooting. Blondheim’s painted world is the rural South, the music of nature, and the visions of the critters, all just as desperate as you to escape the city’s lights, noise, and congestion.
Deeply committed to Southern Culture—what she knows, understands, and loves—Blondheim is also a realist. A supporter of the Alachua County Land Trust and Florida Land Trust, she realizes that not only is she painting what she knows, but she is preserving it as well. Barns may collapse from disuse and time, horses and cattle may become displaced by human “development,” but Blondheim’s paintings will capture and save forever the South that once was, still is but less so, and that may disappear into Progress.

Blondheim says of her North Florida Muse series, “Natural Florida is our state treasure. We must preserve these beautiful lands, rivers, marshes and crystal springs with their culture as a historical testament to the real Florida that is rapidly vanishing. My North Florida Muse series is a tribute to the farmers, ranchers, land and water conservationists of Florida.”
For additional information, see:

Linda Blondheim
Studio 386.462.5726
http://www.lindablondheim.com




lindablondheim@gmail.com

http://linda-blondheim.blogspot.com
-For collectors


http://melrosebayartgallery.com/home.html



http://www.cowartandmore.com

http://www.floridaseden.org/guide/index.php- about the Wood Swink.

http://www.amelianow.com/winter00-cattle.htm cattle industry history in Florida

http://floridacrackerlivinghistory.com/

http://home.comcast.net/~711trish/flcrack.html

Linda Blondheim Art Studio Newsletter May28,2009

Henry
8x10 inches
oil on panel

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 referral rewards when you send a new patron to me who purchases.

May/2009

Florida's Prairies



People don't realize that Florida is full of prairies. They are all over Florida, especially in the interior. Lots of people know about Paynes Prairie. All of us who live in Alachua County are proud of our vast prairie with its interesting history. I have painted hundreds of paintings there over the years and I hope to for many more years to come. I like to paint there in the winter a lot, when the bugs are away. I always see deer and other small indigenous animals. I have been lucky to see both the wild ponies and the bison who live on the prairie, not to mention the hundreds of alligators, and water snakes I see each year.


There is a favorite spot for me inside the Paynes Prairie State Park where I love to paint time and again. Many of the paintings I do are from that location. It is on the way into the park after you go through the ranger hut. There is a large field of palms and old oaks there and it is just beautiful with the tall grasses. You will often see me there on the side of the road in fall and winter.

I had a great experience once on the bridge over the lake in the park. I was painting by myself up on the bridge. I heard someone coming up the walk and thought to myself, I will just finish this stroke of paint before I stop to say hello. I heard them stop and wait. I turned around to greet them and realized I was staring a full grown deer in the face. We both jumped and she was off into the woods in a flash. It was sooo cool!!

Then there was the morning when I arrived at the Observation Tower to be greeted by a mammoth bison just a few feet away. That was a thrill for me, never having seen one so close. I never realized how large they are.


I have painted at the prairie and in the park for many years and the best time is around 4PM to dark, especially in the winter months. The color is indescribable there.

There are lots of activities out at the prairie and our wonderful Florida naturalist Lars Andersen does guided tours as well as the rangers from the park. There are also campfires in the winter.

At one time there was a wonderful music program on NPR called Across the Prairie. it may still be on. It was on Sunday, I remember that.


There are other prairies in this area as well though far less famous and more remote. A few of my favorites are Tuscawilla, Prairie, Barr Hammock, Kanapaha Prairie, and several small ones on private lands. Florida prairies are unique and beautiful and I like to paint them as often as I possibly can. If you haven't been out to Paynes Prairie, the vast Kissimmee Prairie or the ones in South Florida, you will be amazed at how beautiful and fascinating they can be. They are truly one of the great resources in Florida and should be respected and loved by all.

From : www.myakkariver.org

Prairies in Florida?

Hear "prairies" and we
immediately think of the vast,
grassy, treeless plains stretching
from the forested East to the Rocky Mountains.
You may be surprised to learn that 300,000 acres
of Florida's interior was once prairie. Imagine a
vast plain covered with grasses, wildflowers, and
saw palmetto, with a scattering of cabbage palms.
An old Florida "cracker" described the land as "so flat
you could see a horse galloping across the prairie a mile
away."
Florida dry prairie is
unique. There's no other
place on earth that has
the same combination of
plants and animals.
Caracaras soar overhead
while grasshopper
sparrows and indigo
snakes hide in bluestem
and wiregrass. Botanists
are astounded to find over 40 plant species per square
meter in healthy Florida prairie. To appreciate this special
ecosystem, look into it, not just at it.
Before human intervention, the prairie thrived as
lightning fires and seasonal flooding controlled the ever
invading woody plants and trees. As the old

Where, Oh Where Have the Prairies
Gone?
Early Florida travelers didn't find much use for
this "wasteland." In the 1840s a surveyor wrote
that the land was so worthless it was a waste
of taxpayers' money for him to bother
surveying it. With few trees to clear, cattlemen
and farmers soon discovered ways to increase
a prairie's commercial value:
Ditches were dug to control annual summer
flooding.
Ranchers planted non-native grasses, as they could
graze ten times the amount of cattle on the same
acreage.
Pine trees, citrus groves and vegetable crops
replaced wiregrass and palmetto.
As natural fires were extinguished, trees and
shrubs grew to replace grasses and herbs.
As we continue to "plow under and pave over" to
accommodate our increasing population, prairie land is
lost forever.
Florida cracker would say, "Anyone that
has lived out here around the prairie knows
it's the fire that gives life to the prairie.
Without it, there's not much hope for the
prairie."

Why Bother to Save the Prairies?
A prairie is truly living earth-storing fresh water,
capturing the sun's energy and converting carbon dioxide
to oxygen. Grasses are twice as effective as trees in
performing these vital functions. An underground jungle
of mites, earthworms and nematodes break down wastes,
recycle nutrients and build soil fertility.
If we lose the prairie, we not only lose the plant and
animal life it supports, but we lose its natural functions.
The Florida prairie is home to caracaras, burrowing owls,
sandhill cranes, and many animals that depend on prairie
for their existence. The tiny, endangered Florida
grasshopper sparrow exists nowhere else on earth.
The most important reasons for preserving prairies
have no price tags.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/paynesprairie/

http://www.amazon.com/Paynes-Prairie-Great-Savanna-History/dp/1561642967 by Lars Andersen

http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall03/Ede/history.htm

http://www.prairiefriends.org/index.html

http://www.floridaadventuring.com/paynes-prairie.html

http://epicroadtrips.us/2006/winter/paynes_prairie_state_park/

http://www.floridastateparks.org/kissimmeeprairie/default.cfm

http://www.audubonofflorida.org/specialplaces_lakeO.html

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20050703&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=507030455&Ref=AR



Life with Dogs

Henry (AKA Studio Dog) is my best friend. We are joined at the hip. If I get up to go to the coffee machine he will instantly wake from a sound sleep to follow me and throw himself back down on the floor, back to sleep instantly. My relationship with Henry has taken a long time to develop. He is now 14 months old. I bought him at 10 weeks old. It had been a very long time since I had a puppy. My old dog Anchor died a few weeks before I got Henry. He was a splendid old Schnauzer I had rescued many moons ago. Anchor came to me as a complete, older dog. He was fully crate trained and house trained and had no desire to chew on furniture, shoes or anything other than his meals each day. He was a good soul and slept most of the time, kicking up his heels for about 15 minutes a day. I swore I would not get another dog after Anchor died. It was too painful. That lasted about 3 weeks. I was so very lonely without him. I have had a dog for most of my life and it didn't seem right without one.



Henry arrived and the world turned upside down. He was a very creative and high maintenance puppy. I have endless stories about his adventures for the first few months, including the time he ate part of a bag of fertilizer, chewed up a battery, which ate half of his tongue hide off, and numerous other disasters. He is still high maintenance but getting better. For some reason Frenchies are slow to learn the normal things other dogs learn quickly. They are very smart, but quite stubborn. He is just now becoming reliable about potty training, and will still eat anything he can get to. He is becoming a good dog, little by little. His saving grace is that he is so darned cute and fun that you have to laugh at the antics he pulls. He makes me laugh all day long.

I have learned some tricks along the way too. I keep a spray bottle of water around to spray in his face if he barks too much or jumps up on furniture he is not supposed to be on. I use hot sauce on the edge of the trash can, the furniture I want to protect. Shaking hot sauce onto anything you don't want him to eat works really great. One sniff of it and he is no longer interested. I keep his leash on a lot of the time to keep him with me. If he disappears for long, I know he is into something he shouldn't be. I have found using a clicker to be excellent as a training tool. Always click to reward good behavior and teach your dog hand signals. It works!!!

I have learned some things about good nutrition too for dogs. A lot of the commercial brands of dog foods you find in grocery stores and pet stores are not good for them. This was the biggest shock for me. Some of the major brands are full of cereal and little protein. Dogs need a good diet because they are physically active, or should be. Many dogs are over fed by kind hearted owners but the owners don't realize they are slowly killing their dogs. Henry walks on my treadmill for 20 minutes each day. I gradually increase the speed until he is trotting midway into the time and then gradually decrease the speed so that he cools down at the end walking slowly. Henry eats "Blue" brand dog food. I get it at Pet Smart, though it is probably available at other pet shops too. It aint cheap, but it is excellent in quality. It has human grade protein and the antioxidant additives to help prevent cancer. That brand also has dog cookies.

I also buy beef marrow bones at the grocery store for him to use as chew toys. He loves them and will work on them for weeks and weeks. These keep his teeth nice and clean. When the marrow is gone, I fill them with carrots, rice, or peanut butter as a snack; much cheaper than any chew sticks at the pet store. If you fill the bones with rice and freeze them, the dog will love licking and working on them for quite a while. He also loves the disgusting pig ears. I don't give him raw hide. I read that it was not good for their digestion and Henry swallows it.

Henry has several condos,(Crates). His sleeping crate is nice and roomy with a thick pad for a bed. I use a sheepskin pad on top, so that the bed stays clean and I can throw the sheepskin pad in the washer. He always sleeps in his crate, where he is safe and cannot harm himself or anything else. I am a big believer in using crates for dogs. If I am away from the house, he stays in the crate.

I am going to get him a nice crate house for the yard. It's really nifty. It is a 10x10 ft Iron house with a tarp top for shade and a swinging door. It will be very nice for him to stay in if I am gone for a few hours. He will be protected from other animals and have shade. I can lock the door so no one can take him. I expect he will love it. He likes to be outside for part of the day.

The other condo is the back of my car. It has a hatch back and a small comfy space behind the back seat. I got him a nice thick rug, a spill proof water bowl and some toys, so he is all set to be car dog. I don't take him with me much in the summer unless it is raining, because the car is too hot for me to leave him in, but the rest of the year, he goes almost everywhere with me. Dogs love to ride in cars and fortunately, he does not get car sick. He will go all day long, anywhere I want to go.

Henry has adapted quite well to my plein air painting habit. We go all around the county to paint together. His favorite location is Fair Oaks Farm in Evinston. We ride around the farm in a golf cart and he pretends to be on safari. While I paint, he snoozes in the cart or eats sticks. He also loves to run beside the cart. The boys on the farm like to play with him so he feels a sense of entitlement to be there until the head farm dog bares her teeth and puts him in his place. She is not ready to share just yet.

Everyone has an opinion on the best pet, but I am a long time dog person and that won't change. Dogs actually think we are smart and wonderful. I'm not going to argue with them ;>)

http://www.dogchannel.com/
http://www.akc.org/
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/dogs/dogs.html
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/
http://www.greatdogsite.com/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/dogs/
http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/petselection/dogs.asp
http://www.dogplay.com/



Upcoming Events
I'm happy to share that the Evinston Paint out will be back in April of 2010. The tentative dates are April 2-10. Everyone missed that paint ot so much this year. The proceeds will be shared with the Land Trust, The Wood Swink PO, and a new art school for children at Windmill Gallery in McIntosh, all very worthy projects. Save the dates on your calendar.


Linda's Annual Hot Dog Picnic will be at Melrose Bay Gallery this summer on Saturday July 11th, also serving as the opening for my exhibition
North Florida Muse at the gallery. Please plan to come, enjoy a hot dog and lemonade and see my paintings. I'll be there all day so stop in on your way to the lakes.
http://melrosebayartgallery.com/home.html


I'll also have an exhibition at Vam York Theatre in July for their production of Chicago.

http://www.gcplayhouse.org/

How About a Recipe?
Oven Fried Chicken

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs and breasts or 6 of either
1 ziplock bag filled with 2 cups flour and 2 T each, salt,pepper,thyme,paprika,dried onion flakes
one sheet pan sprayed with Pam thoroughly,dusted with flour and sprayed again.

Oven preheated to 400 degrees.

Place chicken in seasoned flour bag and roll around until coated. Shake of extra and place on sheet pan. Spray tops of chicken with a coating of Pam. Bake until crispy and brown. Yummy and low fat.

Cook's Tip:

Cooks like me who frequently have visitors learn to keep certain products in the fridge and pantry all the time. it is simple to put together a tray of snacks in a hurry. Here are some of the items I always have:

Olives
pickles
Pickled veges in jars
soft tortillas
cold pack spreadible cheddar cheese
block cheese
Tuna
canned chicken
canned pineapple tidbits
sour cream
country Dijon Mustard
hard salami
mayo
salsa
taco seasoning mix
Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix
Cream Cheese
Good Crackers
Kettle Chips
Carrots
celery
fresh fruit
canned pinto or black beans

With the above I can make some pretty fancy stuff in a hurry.


Linda's Easy Layaway Plan


I don't know what happened to layaway. I've always liked the idea. Back in the day, that's how everyone bought stuff. I guess the credit card and instant gratification have replaced layaway for most businesses, but not for mine. I offer layaway to all of my patrons as an option and it's a good one. I charge no additional fees or interest for my layaway program. Unlike charging to your credit card and paying huge interest fees, you can pay me 25% down and take 12-18 months to pay off a painting if you like with no interest at all and no storage fees. You choose the options whether monthly or quarterly payments. I will hold the painting for you and deliver it after the final payment.


Not sure which painting you want? You can also pre-order and pay for a painting in advance or in payments, waiting for the right painting that speaks to you. When you see it, it's already paid for. It's the easy way to own a fine painting with no hassle or extra expense.
To arrange a layaway plan for your favorite painting email me at lindablondheim@gmail.com. Type Lawaway in the subject line.

The Evinston Paint Out is Returning to North Central Florida

Richardson Farm Cows
Evinston Florida
12x16 inches
oil on panel


I'm very excited to share that the Evinston Paint Out will return in 2010. The tentative date is the first week of April. I don't have a list of the artists yet, but some of the previous will return, making it a homecoming for all of us.
As I receive more information I will share it.

The paint out will support improvements to the Wood Swink, Florida's oldest working post office, a historical treasure, The Land Trust, and a new art school for children sponsored by the Windmill Gallery on the Orange Lake overlook in McIntosh, Florida.

More information to come, but save the date for a fabulous experience.

Linda Blondheim Studio Newsletter for art collectors,May 21,2009 edition

Wood Farm
18x24 inches
oil on canvas


Linda Blondheim Art Studio
Landscapes of the South

lindablondheim@gmail.com



Don't forget that I send you 10% of the sale referral rewards for sending me new clients who purchase my paintings.

May 2009

Artists relate to Land and Water Conservation
Florida Landscape Painters
Landscape painters have a special relationship to this good earth and it's rivers, lakes and seas. I know of few others with the exception of property owners, and conservationists who love the earth more than we do. After all, it sustains us and gives us the inspiration for our life's work. We go where few others dare to explore. We are never happier than when we are stomping around in the woods, standing on the shore, or paddling along with a tiny paint box in our laps. While most people get excited about their new car, or the latest movie, we are keen on going to a new place, previously unexplored, to paint.



Our roots go deep in the land like a strong tree. We love the fields of wild flowers, the grand old oaks with swaying moss, and the tall graceful palms of our beloved Florida. We love the farmers and ranchers who own the land, the conservationists who care for it. This is a deep bond. These people allow us to imagine what it is like to own and be a part of their precious land. I am deeply grateful to them.

For this reason, we have formed a landscape painters' tribe in a sense. A casual network of friendships based on the love of Florida's land and waters. We have a commonality of interests and we travel to places in Florida to do Paint Outs together a few times a year. We have become a circuit in a way, similar to the street festival artists, yet quite different in that we become the entertainment as well as our art. People come and watch us paint and then buy our paintings, sometimes right from the easel.

We are often partners with local Land Trust organizations. When you read the materials from these agancies, you will see that many landscape painters are members and we contribute to the cause with our art and our checkbooks.


In a sense, painters are the historians of our culture. We are recording the land before it disappears into the next new Condo development or business. We are contributing to the conservation of large tracts of land that will be preserved against development. We record the dress, style and period of our time in history like no camera could.

My Daddy always said there is nothing you can own more important than the land, and it's preservation and stewardship is your responsibility. I take that seriously. My mission is to honor the land and water of Florida and to record it for posterity.

The next time you look at a lovely landscape painting, reach deep inside your soul and think about all it really means as part of your culture and history. It's so much more than a pretty painting to hang on the wall. It has real meaning for your life and the history and culture of your neighborhood.




Panes Prairie Fall
18x24 inches
acrylic on Birch panel

http://www.ecofloridamag.com/

http://www.kayakjacksonville.com/

http://eco-florida.blogspot.com/

http://www.eco-usa.net/orgs/fl.shtml

http://www.floridanature.org/

http://www.floridasnature.com/

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/

http://www.alachuaconservationtrust.org

http://www.conserveflorida.org/index.html


From Linda's Art Lover Salons
Protecting yourself from Fraud

How can you protect yourself from fraud or poorly crafted art?

Original art of substance is a serious investment emotionally and financially. Most professional artists stand behind their work 100%. It is very important that you understand the guarantees offered by artists.

I offer a 100% money back or replacement of my paintings within seven days of delivery for any reason. Sometimes a client will take the painting home, decide that another they liked will fit better, bringing it back to change a painting for another in my studio. My desire is to satisfy my clients thoroughly. I ship my paintings around the USA, and I'm always happy to work with a client to choose the right painting for their home. You may not realize that artists have a love for their work too. I want my paintings to go to homes where they will be appreciated and cherished. They are like my children. Sometimes a custom painting is more desirable to fit a particular decor or subject. I am always happy to do commissions for clients. I do not take trade ins of older paintings. Most artists don't either. My local dealer is happy to show them for you on consignment if appropriate to his market.

A responsible artist will be sure to make their return policies clear to buyers. They will offer receipts with the painting, properly packing it or wrapping it for shipping. They will include the materials used to create the painting. A responsible professional will use the best quality of materials they can afford and will use proper painting methods to protect the painting from harm in the future.

If you want to purchase from a painter you like on the Internet, but do not know, be sure to ask for client testimonials and references. Check with art dealers in that city to inquire about the artist's reputation. I offer both client testimonials and my patron list on my web site for all to see. I am proud to have my work in many homes and businesses. I am always happy to give references and my credentials to inquiring patrons. I have been in business for 30+ years as a painter. I stand behind my work with pride. If your inquiries to an artist are not answered to your satisfaction and with courtesy, avoid the artist and look for another.

I've had two recent art salons at Paddiwhack Gallery. The were great fun for me and my guests.



If you would like to schedule an Art Lover Salon with Friends, please email me. They can be scheduled at my studio, or at Paddiwhack Gallery in Gainesville. We have a light meal and enjoy talking about my art. I always give guests a portfolio of useful information about collecting art. Come join me for your own Art Lover's Salon.



Food Glorious Food!!!

For Foodies

I'm a foodie and have been for as long as I can remember. Southern food and culture are so much a part of us here in the south. Wherever I travel, the conversations turn to food and stories about our childhoods. In the south it was considered to be unforgivable not to offer food and drink to a guest in your home. I have carried on that tradition in my studio. I take great pride in preparing good food for my studio guests and I love shopping and preparing food for a party. My daughters share that love as well. We think nothing of spending hours in Fresh Market, comparing cheeses, all of the pickles and olives, the wine and fresh flowers, and hanging around in the produce section. Have you ever noticed how wonderful a produce section is in a store like Fresh Market? It is overflowing with beauty, texture and color. Strolling around the store, looking at the various components to good eating is a feast for the senses. In fact the whole shopping center where Fresh Market is located in Gainesville, is a feast for foodies like me. We have Upper Crust Bakery with all of it's fine breads and pastries, and A wonderful seafood monger, West Coast Seafood, and Dorn's for fine wines and cheeses. I can spend the day going from shop to shop there, looking at food and all the components of good eating. Luckily, my gallery Paddiwhack has just moved to the space next to Fresh Market, so it's very convenient for me.

Think of the rich bounty we have here in Florida. As you travel around the state you will find a harvest of seafood, honey, Beef, Pork, chicken and numerous fruits and vegetables on the tables of southern folk. We have our specialties like Key Lime Pie, and every region shows off it's best to travelers. Of course, my favorite is still fried chicken. I could write a book about my memories and experiences with that single food. Fried chicken is my comfort food. Whenever I am feeling low, I get out the chicken, the cast iron skillet and start frying. It makes me extremely happy and I love the process of it as I would in doing a painting. I'll do a newsletter about fried chicken one day.

The Food Network on TV is almost heaven, with all of the chefs's programs. My two favorite TV chefs are Jacques Pepin on PBS and Ina Garten on Food Network. They are wonderful chefs, not too weird with their recipes, not too silly, just good easy to understand instructions and great style.

Here is a tip from my days as a chef/caterer.

To really enhance the color and flavor of parsley, first rinse the whole bunch in cold water and drain. Cut away the woody stems and chop the leaves as finely as you like with a chef knife using a rocking motion of the knife over the leaves. Keep scraping them back to the center of the cutting board and chopping. Place all the chopped parsley in the center of a clean bar towel or kitchen towel. Hold over the sink and squeeze the parsley in a tight spiral of the towel around it. Squeeze until all moisture is out. Open the towel and bag the parsley with a single moist paper towel in a sealed container. The parsley will be usable for quite a while. Why squeeze the parsley after it's chopped? Squeezing the parsley releases the oils in the leaves, where the taste and fragrance come from. It also brings out the beautiful color in the herb. That is a very important step.

Here's a Top ten list of my favorite cakes:

Carrot Cake
Red Velvet Cake
Sour Cream Pound Cake
Key Lime Cheesecake
Poppy Seed Lemon Cake with lemon curd filling
Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Strawberry Short Cake
Spice Cake
Chocolate cake with amaretto and raspberry filling and chocolate ganache icing

Cake is my very favorite dessert. I can resist almost anything but cake. It is my downfall. I never really met a cake I didn't like. When I was a child, Mother used to buy 1/2 yellow cakes with chocolate frosting on the bread isle at the grocery store. They were very popular and we could not wait to dig into them. They were the precursor to the frozen cakes you can buy now at stores. I love to peruse the bakery at the grocery store, looking longingly at the cakes in the showcase. For awhile the were selling sugar free chocolate cakes but now the don't. I miss them. I started out in the food industry making cakes for a living. I specialized in small cakes for 8 to 12 people. They were rich and lovely with lots of brandies and liqueurs in them. A cake is a beautiful piece of edible art.


How About a Recipe?

This was my favorite cake for adding all kinds of flavorings and texture too. It is the best pound cake around.

Sour Cream Pound Cake


1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, plus more for pan 3 cups sugar 1 cup sour cream 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 6 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extractAlmond Buttercream Frosting, recipe follows
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter and flour a tube pan and set aside.
In the bowl of a mixer, cream butter and sugar together and then add sour cream. Sift flour and baking soda together. Add to creamed mixture, alternately with eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add extracts and stir to combine. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Cool cake in pan for about 10 minutes and then unmold and cool completely on a wire rack.

Cook's Note: This cake can be baked in regular round pans to make a wonderful layer cake. Fillings include lemon curd, raspberries or strawberries, raspberry jam with almonds. Sprinkle layers with rum, or other liqueurs, pineapple or any other fruit you like. Frost with buttercream. It makes a beautiful cake that stands up well for multiple layers.


http://www.southernfoodways.com/
http://www.soul-food-advisor.com/

http://www.southernfoodcooking.com/

http://www.chefrick.com/

http://www.olsouthrecipes.com/

http://bama.ua.edu/~bgray/recipes.htm

http://southerncuisine.suite101.com/article.cfm/favorite_southern_food_quotes

http://www.travelsouthflavours.com/

http://www.lifeintheusa.com/food/southerncooking.htm

http://www.mamas-southern-cooking.com/

A Patron Soiree at Paddiwhack Gallery

Today my paintings were featured at Paddiwhack Gallery, located at 4128 NW 16th BLVD, Gainesville, Florida in the Fresh Market shopping center. We were showing off their brand new space. Chuck had a nice wine and cheese selection for visitors. It is huge and beautiful. The owner Chuck Sapp has arranged the paintings with furniture and decor to give them a home like setting on the walls. The walls are painted a warm soft buttery yellow and the paintings look really wonderful in that setting. The show will be up at least another week, and then the paintings will be mixed with other artists' work. Please go by anytime and tell them I sent you.It is a lovely gallery.

Studio News

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

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A Soiree with Linda at Paddiwhack Gallery
An Artist's Life Aint Bad
The Right Painting for your Room
How About a Recipe?May 2009



Gator Pond
30x0 inches
oil on Birch panel

I finally found the time to glaze this painting and finish it.



A Soiree with Linda at Paddiwhack Gallery- Let's celebrate the new location


My good friend, Chuck Sapp who owns Paddiwhack Gallery has decided that it might be fun to have a little soiree on a Sunday afternoon. Since I will have many paintings on display in the Gallery, it will be fun to have a little talk about my work. We will have wine and cheese for you and Chuck will be on hand to talk with you about your art interests. He is very knowledgeable about collecting trends, framing and so forth. He is anxious to show off his beautiful new space as well.

Come spend Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2009 with us at
Paddiwack Gallery, next to Fresh Market, 4120 NW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida from 1-4PM




Ginnie Springs
24x36 inches
oil on Birch panel
In Studio

An Artist's Life Aint Bad

I wake up ever day joyful about my job. Artists are lucky. We meet fabulous, interesting people and participate in wonderful adventures year round. A lot of people have the idea that artists are poor and oppressed. Not true!! We are the richest people in the world. We experience more in a year than some folks do in a lifetime. We see and experience what many others overlook. We live vicariously through the friends that we meet and they generously share their lives and experiences with us.

I thank each of you who read this for contributing to the joy I experience each day. Without you, none of it would be possible. Being an artist is a privilege you have given me and I thank you one and all!!!


Cocktail time on the Winter Park Boat Tour.

Thanks again to the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden for honoring me by showing my work. A museum show is no small thing in the art world. I have been fortunate to show my work in several museums in Florida, Georgia and Alabama over the years. It is always special to be recognized in this way.
http://www.polasek.org



Paynes Prairie State Park
20x24 inches
oil on Birch panel


Some Design Tips

From my Art Lover Salons

What is the best sized painting for my room?

This is a question most often asked too late; while you are out shopping at a gallery, an artist's studio or at an art event.

This should be decided first, while you are considering an art purchase. If you have the correct size and format orientation before you shop, you will be less likely to make a significant mistake, saving yourself and the artist heartache and disappointment.

Think about the orientation first. Would a square, horizontal, or vertical orientation work better in the room? If it is a large wall, would a pair of squares make a nice grouping side by side or stacked rather than one painting?

Do you prefer an unframed contemporary style with panels or deep gallery wrap paintings or do you prefer traditional wide framing? If you will be framing the work, allow for an additional 4-6 inches in width for the framing in each direction when planning the size on the wall.

Now that you have made these decisions, it's time to test out your desires before you shop. Go to an office supply store and buy a roll of brown craft paper and a roll of blue painter's tape. Use a measure and pencil to cut out painting sizes (Don't forget to add the size of the frame.) and then tape the paper where you plan to hang your painting. Step back and see how the size and format will look on the wall. Try more than one to make sure you choose the best possibility.

Now you can shop for paintings with confidence and be less of an impulse shopper. Don't forget that I am happy to do commission paintings which will give you the paining in the right size, subject, color scheme for our particular room and style of decor.




http://www.hgtv.com/topics/design-style/index.html

http://www.findanyfloor.com/VirtualRoomDesigner.xhtml

Advice on living room design by Interior designer Bill William

Even if you don't have the Martha Stewart touch, you can still design a living room that will make any interior designer proud. It just takes a little thought and some creativity; moreover, you don't have to dish out a fortune to make your living space look amazing.
The first thing you want to consider when it comes to designing your living room is the amount of space you have available. Thinking about space will guide how you go about arranging your living room furniture; it will also give you a good idea of how much creative license you can take-whether you can add more flair in the form of knick knacks, bibelot, plants, vases and other such flourishes.
Next, think about the activities you do in your living room. Make a list. You don't want to make your living room to formal or too delicate, otherwise no one will dare enter for fear of breaking something or putting something out of its place. Your living room should be an inviting place where you can gather with friends and family.
Next consider the furniture you already have and think about whether you really need all of it. A lot of times, people have simply too much stuff cluttering up their space. It's unnecessary. Usually you can delegate certain pieces of furniture to other parts of the house where they will serve much better. Only keep the essential pieces that you will need for entertaining guests and for relaxing with the family.


A good idea is to draw out a sketch of your room to scale and to cut out furniture replicas; this way you can play around with different design ideas and furniture arrangements without having to actually move around furniture.


When you begin, consider the focal point of your room. Usually, in a living room, this centers around your TV and TV furniture. Your TV furniture consists of your TV stand or cabinet and any accompanying furniture used for storing your DVDs and audio equipment for example. Other typical focal points include windows or even pianos.
Once you've identified your main focal point, work around it. Think about what kind of style and mood you want to achieve. Using your model or imagining the situation in your head, think about different options. Consider the layout and how you can work with it by moving the furniture around to create completely different styles.
When you are arranging the furniture, remember to keep things simple and clean. Avoid clutter.
Avoid blocking any arterials or walkways. If you have a larger living room, you may want to break it down, by splitting into two different sections, for example, one part could be dedicated to entertainment, with all your TV furniture, while the other half could be dedicated to conversation and relaxation.


Remember you do not have to place all large pieces of furniture flush against the wall. Consider different angles and corners for stylized effects. Make sure to place chairs close together, but leave space for traffic.
Try to make your room flow. Use your model and experiment with different arrangements. Remember there is no wrong way to decorate; be creative.



How About a Recipe?


This is an old favorite of mine, given to me by a restauranteur many years ago. He served it with crunchy bits of Italian bread which was toasted and put in a basket with the cheese spread. It was a munchie to have with wine while waiting for the first course. In those days restaurants were much more personalized, giving out free appetizers and wonderful stuff. This was his most popular recipe and I begged him for it for years. It was only after he decided to retire that he agreed to give it to me. I was surprised at the simplicity of the recipe. It was a favorite on my catering menu for years.

Cheese Spread

8 oz cream cheese
1 cold pack spreadable cheddar cheese or port wine cheese (It comes in a tub)
1 package dry Italian Dressing Mix (Good Seasons is excellent)
1/4 cup red wine( decent quality)

Put it all in a mixer and beat thoroughly. Place in a crock, hollowed out vegetable like a squash, or in a serving dish. Serve with tasty crackers or Italian Bread pieces, and good hard Italian salami. Wonderful!!!




Save 20.00 May subscriber Special:
2 5x7 inch paintings from my web site for 90.00
regularly 55.00 each. Unframed
FREE SHIPPING
Email me to make your selections
lindablondheim@gmail.com

Offer Expires: May 31, 2009

Albin Polasek Museum

If you live in the Orlando area, take your mother to the Polasek Museum for Mother's Day and enjoy the paintings.

Albin Polasek Museum