tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41217784208746761662024-03-12T21:39:01.828-07:00Living Buffchic StyleLiving artfully with good food, good thoughts, art and design.buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-7073211414040029442021-07-06T06:42:00.006-07:002021-07-06T06:42:41.320-07:00Summer Plein Air Painting<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3qAWZ9__n6RJGGb_kwE6EsNwe__okPma3pSvzELc7pl1ck-2HjwHly4Pj9Hv5OwVwmH1vg9DCZt3jBeUmhWmj8nTMOyy2_SAU_Mt8kHgs3cWVADyi0QIep7wSnrh0efytCqBvA_LWUQ/s2048/Bontemps+House+Porch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3qAWZ9__n6RJGGb_kwE6EsNwe__okPma3pSvzELc7pl1ck-2HjwHly4Pj9Hv5OwVwmH1vg9DCZt3jBeUmhWmj8nTMOyy2_SAU_Mt8kHgs3cWVADyi0QIep7wSnrh0efytCqBvA_LWUQ/w240-h320/Bontemps+House+Porch.JPG" title="Bontemps House Porch" width="240" /></a></div>This summer I have braving the heat and the bugs to get out and do more plein air painting here in central Louisiana. This porch painting of <a href="https://poets.org/poet/arna-bontemps">Arna Bontemps house </a>was done on a morning in June 2021 in Alexandria, Louisiana on a plein air outing with a couple of artist friends.<p></p><p>I recently returned from a trip to Maine where I visited<a href="https://monheganwelcome.com/"> Monhegan Island</a> off the coast. What a wonderful experience this was! I had first heard of the island by watching a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-08hn2LjNk">video on YouTube</a> about the artist colony that was started there many decades ago, and specifically about the women artists there.</p><p>Monhegan was a fabulous experience, and I am anxious to return to paint more. We just had one day there, and the ferry back to Booth Bay left at 2:30, so painting time was short. I got one view of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manana_Island_(Maine)">Manana</a> island peeking behind edge of Monhegan. I look forward to finishing it here at home in the studio.</p><p> My plein air spot was up on a rocky area just behind the Monhegan school house. A screechy pheasant hung out behind me on a rock. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGIKRFYIkUQ8gB34YGwuZCcMlKwcFZFr-tT5k4hlIIgJ00LBomBktOSQotAq-hbKh-sSn4TXM0loEEju54hg-MKKVEWGsnDs7leb18n199feBcj0X7jkzxEsfSmBmGWY1_bgwsvdm6g8/s2048/Monheganpheasant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGIKRFYIkUQ8gB34YGwuZCcMlKwcFZFr-tT5k4hlIIgJ00LBomBktOSQotAq-hbKh-sSn4TXM0loEEju54hg-MKKVEWGsnDs7leb18n199feBcj0X7jkzxEsfSmBmGWY1_bgwsvdm6g8/w150-h200/Monheganpheasant.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN8Gq3poBuTvgwW4QX4mLf4RiumOWeMuM8F27khGlttTg6JNsZCApebeA3eGAg9_-A2Ph1LnpofAxQoYI4QiGOZ4gy3BmAlix_h5KfXoiikYVM-W9lOIn4iKiMI0DOW5Wh9gd8lwzmr8/s2048/Monhegan+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN8Gq3poBuTvgwW4QX4mLf4RiumOWeMuM8F27khGlttTg6JNsZCApebeA3eGAg9_-A2Ph1LnpofAxQoYI4QiGOZ4gy3BmAlix_h5KfXoiikYVM-W9lOIn4iKiMI0DOW5Wh9gd8lwzmr8/w240-h320/Monhegan+view.JPG" title="Monhegan Island view" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBKcxM-xV5fWNJhaua1KfM2HDG_nByHKeIdKazqRDHZJH7LdPud8nEsgxiGrVxcJjzmiYXqnRXN-IrrHnRfYcGLSPsQJNKJBxH3iZ9zOiScO6aSBxOZalZ-BtXrq9xsfAO6Lcu9GN_hk/s2048/Monheganpleinair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBKcxM-xV5fWNJhaua1KfM2HDG_nByHKeIdKazqRDHZJH7LdPud8nEsgxiGrVxcJjzmiYXqnRXN-IrrHnRfYcGLSPsQJNKJBxH3iZ9zOiScO6aSBxOZalZ-BtXrq9xsfAO6Lcu9GN_hk/w400-h300/Monheganpleinair.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-59666013023390086882020-11-01T20:18:00.006-08:002020-11-01T20:22:13.154-08:00Election Day NON-Watch Plan<p style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04NRMcvQdQ6t-gUuhm_MRiFyP2kJ_CNR0mfcnYfqEUzMixEOAvscd4KhK0E0ZP2N6t5Z8OQw_yIJKdBLvMjjeJzjrcCNj-Pn0b9S7UrtAPOmHj7ncMhH9yIiYAlnigC8n0aiBJVkxstE/s2048/IMG_3805.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04NRMcvQdQ6t-gUuhm_MRiFyP2kJ_CNR0mfcnYfqEUzMixEOAvscd4KhK0E0ZP2N6t5Z8OQw_yIJKdBLvMjjeJzjrcCNj-Pn0b9S7UrtAPOmHj7ncMhH9yIiYAlnigC8n0aiBJVkxstE/w150-h200/IMG_3805.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting utility pole -VOTE</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span>Election Day - Non- Watch Plan</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>We cast our votes for Joe Biden two weeks ago in early voting here in Louisiana. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>We were the only two votes for the Democratic ticket (Clinton) in the 2016 Presidential election in our ward or district in Avoyelles Parish.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Now turning our attention to getting through the Election Day coverage.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>The pain of the 2016 Election Day tally is still fresh. PTSD resonated each week of the past four years as we all endured the sheer idiocy and buffoonery of the current Cheeto in Chief. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>So now we make our <u>media silent</u> plan for the day. After being media sponges for weeks leading up to the election, a media drought for the day of the big event seems appropriate. A strategy is needed.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">TENTATIVE PLAN:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lock cell phones in trunk of the car. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">11:00am -3:00pm </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Plein air painting session and picnic in Cheneyville, LA at favorite and historical Trinity Episcopal Church and cemetery.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnsx1QC3FE9JhgJpCR9ZNVi7OeDEfWw_DG_wx6muTOeDoyojFN1l-w6ZyXcIbp7Z2iqcDd159CputlLToK0tTJQTfmGsJpjp0KuUxHEssKFJDLQXhOGIe2DB_SbV8J0d8mfRwkuspcs8/s2048/IMG_3743.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnsx1QC3FE9JhgJpCR9ZNVi7OeDEfWw_DG_wx6muTOeDoyojFN1l-w6ZyXcIbp7Z2iqcDd159CputlLToK0tTJQTfmGsJpjp0KuUxHEssKFJDLQXhOGIe2DB_SbV8J0d8mfRwkuspcs8/s320/IMG_3743.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Episcopal Church, Cheneyville, LA</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">I have painted this church a few times and it never fails to offer an enticing view. The historic graveyard surrounding the church is backed by fields of sugarcane - always dramatic.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b>4:00pm</b> Return to home base.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4:00pm - 8:00pm</b> Begin Lifetime Christmas movie viewing marathon.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>8:00pm</b> - Bonfire - burn unwanted paper, tree limbs from recent storms and hurricanes and disperse fears of loss of democracy in U.S.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">10:00pm </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">First media break - Check for Washington Post headline and CNN update. <i>Only 10 minutes allowed.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">10:15pm</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Begin viewing of top ELECTION DAY movies (this is a harder choice than one would think):</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">See a list of top ten here https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_20_best_election_movies/s1__32702882#slide_1 <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<span style="font-weight: normal;">The Manchurian Candidate"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">"All the President's Men"<br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">"The Candidate"</span></span></p><p class="slide_title" style="float: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"Bob Roberts"</span></p><p class="slide_title" style="float: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"The American President"</span></p><p class="slide_title" style="float: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"Wag the Dog"</span></p><p class="slide_title" style="float: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"Primary Colors"</span></p><p class="slide_title" style="float: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"The Campaign"</span></p><p class="slide_title" style="float: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"Swing Vote"</span></p><p class="slide_title" style="float: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"Meet John Doe"</span></p><p class="slide_title" style="float: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">"Power" </span></p><p class="slide_title" style="float: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Leave your favorite election political movie listed above in the comments and help us chose our Election Day Non-Watch alternative viewing plan movie.</span><br /></p><h2 class="slide_title" style="float: none;"> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmGybH7XytVIMdD70QZ6RLdv_IH2G1Ibbgue4Mv5J4kSVx0yJZ04MzO4-4YdYA32FcrXNxl1CQujSgkrbJZ1BqXcP3oLeY3VvwyF_vsmfFChEC8saN2TkLGSLdLUfNeBisZo94fN0UbI/s2048/IMcoZ5hsRlu9ENcGzlYxYw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmGybH7XytVIMdD70QZ6RLdv_IH2G1Ibbgue4Mv5J4kSVx0yJZ04MzO4-4YdYA32FcrXNxl1CQujSgkrbJZ1BqXcP3oLeY3VvwyF_vsmfFChEC8saN2TkLGSLdLUfNeBisZo94fN0UbI/s320/IMcoZ5hsRlu9ENcGzlYxYw.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m8y6SFcqa3C5vQkdr2i7-yRcRYsan2q-9UCRemDxcCFbF7oCxfGiycAxBnYKI2oRtRnPSGCD4-tM-Lzjh1Rs7icJTvT6XdTbmeXRuRKaZBMUhoKSe9TTPfVawbt9ko8fW4ZeIEhhKj4/s2048/fullsizeoutput_3ae3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m8y6SFcqa3C5vQkdr2i7-yRcRYsan2q-9UCRemDxcCFbF7oCxfGiycAxBnYKI2oRtRnPSGCD4-tM-Lzjh1Rs7icJTvT6XdTbmeXRuRKaZBMUhoKSe9TTPfVawbt9ko8fW4ZeIEhhKj4/s320/fullsizeoutput_3ae3.jpeg" /></a></div></h2><h2 class="slide_title" style="float: none;"> </h2><h2 class="slide_title" style="float: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-51289126409764947162020-10-29T07:04:00.001-07:002020-10-29T07:04:14.443-07:00Election Day Plan on the Horizon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
March 2020: Here we are suddenly sitting at home as never before.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Art making suddenly felt self indulgent - even a self centered activity.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: #ffa400;">Then suddenly arts and crafts were a focus, a means to keeping anxiety and rowdy youngsters now pent up at home at bay. <br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtF7vFh-l0Xszt9uTQSCn7VsXC17dQXQEv6WS7CI36wYo1C1zEyA3jd7UGuKEJ-SbAYby9C_WK4KkKXXxM7BcwGqDjGtO1DPbAXLRsyqTRR0ZRMpOEtYOumUvXLKji-3YqcK3mmqwcEY/s2048/vote+work.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtF7vFh-l0Xszt9uTQSCn7VsXC17dQXQEv6WS7CI36wYo1C1zEyA3jd7UGuKEJ-SbAYby9C_WK4KkKXXxM7BcwGqDjGtO1DPbAXLRsyqTRR0ZRMpOEtYOumUvXLKji-3YqcK3mmqwcEY/w150-h200/vote+work.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ogCes_B4Fh-xcfHoeQkm3P3Dps8_L73s_upRtRR0fzep-OwyLqKWgc7W3pvgxRnAkUCYQMQfse-rvYwDYeTcpA4C96c9GVQirCFobtKHf3v7VRhGeDWhA5GLtY0s2ngyTAxqRQdvy3Q/s2048/vote+pole.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ogCes_B4Fh-xcfHoeQkm3P3Dps8_L73s_upRtRR0fzep-OwyLqKWgc7W3pvgxRnAkUCYQMQfse-rvYwDYeTcpA4C96c9GVQirCFobtKHf3v7VRhGeDWhA5GLtY0s2ngyTAxqRQdvy3Q/s320/vote+pole.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmNIGHXQgpGXjnjTPXFMLfwZTDcuX88EvEpwc_soxDI5ZXOkZsBYPukUbhFH_Y5b2TYWFoILOy8QIEHhZM_XUplJYhFx4MSkuxfTO-2Hp5ieEFRfhLWk4vg0LxDUjqVrMXm4lm7bx3zk/s2048/Vote+me.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmNIGHXQgpGXjnjTPXFMLfwZTDcuX88EvEpwc_soxDI5ZXOkZsBYPukUbhFH_Y5b2TYWFoILOy8QIEHhZM_XUplJYhFx4MSkuxfTO-2Hp5ieEFRfhLWk4vg0LxDUjqVrMXm4lm7bx3zk/s320/Vote+me.JPG" /></a></div><p>We made masks all Spring and summer. We filled over 2000 mask orders, bought 3 new sewing machines and sewed 7 days a week for months. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageSouthernArt?ref=seller-platform-mcnav">https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageSouthernArt?ref=seller-platform-mcnav</a><br /></p><p>Then the 2020 Election loomed closer and closer.</p><p>We painted the AT&T pole out front to urge all to VOTE!</p><p>Our special Election Day plan involves a spin the bottle choice, Lifetime TV (maybe) and a special church graveyard.</p><p>STAY TUNED!<span style="background-color: #ffa400;"><span></span></span><br /></p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-7718312381154688132019-08-26T12:12:00.001-07:002019-08-26T12:12:54.100-07:00Plein Air barn painting in Louisiana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
This barn has been calling me to paint it for at least two years. I finally gave in to the urge to paint it one Sunday afternoon. On the edge of a piece of property that is next to the local hospital in Avoyelles Parish (in Marksville, Louisiana), this barn seems to be in peril of possible destruction in the near future so I thought I better document while I could.</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5POAlz7WD6RE1SN2Rw5O61rypkkvqg_yi-DuUwhsYMJ4zGWWauSf_qRIYtttNkzfLNaI5P5DFdsHGqX8BoQp6q2J1MCT5vOB4-crC_4uLzJt6Yh5EskORiu-hF6BWXeSBVyswl8czngw/s1600/Barn+near+hospital+close+up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5POAlz7WD6RE1SN2Rw5O61rypkkvqg_yi-DuUwhsYMJ4zGWWauSf_qRIYtttNkzfLNaI5P5DFdsHGqX8BoQp6q2J1MCT5vOB4-crC_4uLzJt6Yh5EskORiu-hF6BWXeSBVyswl8czngw/s400/Barn+near+hospital+close+up.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn in Marksville, Louisiana</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtnp_XKpvf9YmvJym2V9W-HyXOuffFfcrTNpiF_oFKX5ODud94hCRIbRp88uiQVFOzfyIDTPegh0rbbcVMiKSF-F5xbKmaiWZgLWoNk33SVb5sZHWZg38Mw8nL5nKLI-DrlQQoMW7zEk/s1600/Mville+barn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1600" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtnp_XKpvf9YmvJym2V9W-HyXOuffFfcrTNpiF_oFKX5ODud94hCRIbRp88uiQVFOzfyIDTPegh0rbbcVMiKSF-F5xbKmaiWZgLWoNk33SVb5sZHWZg38Mw8nL5nKLI-DrlQQoMW7zEk/s640/Mville+barn.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil on linen panel painted plein air</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The drama of the dark tree line behind the barn and the almost black vines spilling out from the roof and down the front of the barn created drama that I couldn't resist painting.</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Here's a link to purchase this painting: </h2>
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<a href="https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/marjorie-shanks/barn-in-marksville/757865">https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/marjorie-shanks/barn-in-marksville/757865</a><br />
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Please follow me on instagram MargeShanksArtist</div>
buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-80003802041472738242017-11-22T04:16:00.001-08:002019-08-26T10:57:44.226-07:00Plein Air - Farmland at Vick Louisiana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Plein Air Painting at Vick, Louisiana<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0LMSWdpmRsu5B6VaC0yXhZY63CPcLDe1pbTCJ-ZvACaEruwe4nrlRguCtpatqvVXQvg5rwAAXpV9alHp4c-4uFOpv8fgFsz2dGTXUzPL1hzLxqjMb_F-Bl6128Iv9eKkM9qdKECLh7I/s1600/Wiley+Place.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0LMSWdpmRsu5B6VaC0yXhZY63CPcLDe1pbTCJ-ZvACaEruwe4nrlRguCtpatqvVXQvg5rwAAXpV9alHp4c-4uFOpv8fgFsz2dGTXUzPL1hzLxqjMb_F-Bl6128Iv9eKkM9qdKECLh7I/s640/Wiley+Place.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plein Air painting in oil done October 2017 - Vick, Louisiana</td></tr>
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This is what my family calls, the Wiley Field, in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vick,_Louisiana">Vick</a> behind my great grandmother's home. It was farmed in soybeans this year. And I went out on a recent Sunday morning in October after the harvest and painted this <a href="http://www.artistdaily.com/topics/plein-air-art">plein air</a> in oil.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGZ61VzJhKh-dZF8vcbIvYL4cQbpV8ubec7a40aq5z25Qk-FKAPhU7hjFjY5ehF4hkfUvml1vujGXm7eRvjYYOFZDVI2ISGe8yCr8SabKVr6BTUjf24XpEc6sRtMIkrP7FJVLi_TKAsc/s1600/Vick+Plein+Air+progress2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGZ61VzJhKh-dZF8vcbIvYL4cQbpV8ubec7a40aq5z25Qk-FKAPhU7hjFjY5ehF4hkfUvml1vujGXm7eRvjYYOFZDVI2ISGe8yCr8SabKVr6BTUjf24XpEc6sRtMIkrP7FJVLi_TKAsc/s320/Vick+Plein+Air+progress2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I toned my gesso board first with an orange tone that became the background of the tilled soil.<br />
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I tried to portray the variegation in the distant tree line and the elegant drape of the tree hanging into the composition that was close to me.<br />
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This land means a lot to me as it represents my heritage and inheritance from my family. <br />
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<a href="https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/marjorie-shanks/wiley-place/636015">Click here to view the auction for this painting on Daily Paintworks.</a><br />
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-90850005596975149962017-11-05T18:44:00.001-08:002017-11-05T18:44:36.743-08:00Painting in Oil but Loving Watercolors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sV-jGmlv-YRhGWiyA_v1NSoiaFhwF35vqZSN-LTFttNVxHPuLUxx-yO1Ob3o9fKnt6pxo1nBosUanWXk2AE9EtK-nq0oPDrd4E-uRaXVoh5p-g03tFVUWqnpGBjjC68Xn6lQH_Oj5ZQ/s1600/Hwy+107+oil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sV-jGmlv-YRhGWiyA_v1NSoiaFhwF35vqZSN-LTFttNVxHPuLUxx-yO1Ob3o9fKnt6pxo1nBosUanWXk2AE9EtK-nq0oPDrd4E-uRaXVoh5p-g03tFVUWqnpGBjjC68Xn6lQH_Oj5ZQ/s320/Hwy+107+oil.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hwy 107 Oil on canvas 20" by 20"</td></tr>
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I was fortunate enough to receive an honorable mention at a local art show for the oil painting above, for which I was given a gift certificate to<a href="http://www.dickblick.com/"> Dick Blick art supplies</a>.<br />
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Though I've been painting in oil lately - I am compelled to use my gift certificate to purchase <a href="http://www.danielsmith.com/ItemList--Daniel-Smith-Watercolor--m-591">Daniel Smith watercolors.</a> I've been enjoying painting smalls and little experiments in watercolor immensely since the <a href="http://buffchicliving.blogspot.com/2016/10/watercolor-workshop-with-randy-meador_26.html">workshop I did with Randy Meador last Fall.</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7t8XsWL-ErJEgIjjEfs-0Vj-25NGEEZvuq_ugRoY4usOst9yQeY6jCeCrV7en-ARpc59mv5EIomlwYBoqkp7IcjhgfcfOa7x66DPL-Z2qdPjo4384JJfgWjhcWIV8SrabcOXp7CUfNVg/s1600/Starlight+Baptist+Church.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7t8XsWL-ErJEgIjjEfs-0Vj-25NGEEZvuq_ugRoY4usOst9yQeY6jCeCrV7en-ARpc59mv5EIomlwYBoqkp7IcjhgfcfOa7x66DPL-Z2qdPjo4384JJfgWjhcWIV8SrabcOXp7CUfNVg/s320/Starlight+Baptist+Church.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starlight Baptist Church- oil on canvas 12" by 12"</td></tr>
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This smaller oil painting is of a curve that I pass daily on my way to work in a small town rural community in Louisiana. I enjoyed experimenting with layering this layers of oil paint diluted with Gamsol and linseed oil to get the shadows and shading in the trees.<br />
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Starlight Baptist Church curve is a recognizable place for those travelling down Hickory Hill road in Avoyelles Parish (aka the AP or simply the Parish).<br />
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I am especially fond of our Louisiana state highway signs. I like the boot shape of the state and the colors that get reflected in the white of the state shape. My favorite is to find an old sign that resides under a tree and has mildew on the white area bring a fun array of colors to the sign.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaPQBgVLTswCIuyD7xrik2-1ONbBH4ioVVcAKiIE2d_-SjhjfMqNys1w77rMNZQIbc0fqWuGqRSNT3x_ttDu1v3ksuo66Daob3yQgOhkQFD7F1i7FKV4zn9MXPgRDR3xoFEIR3OPYKEI/s1600/Vick+Lane+Turn+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaPQBgVLTswCIuyD7xrik2-1ONbBH4ioVVcAKiIE2d_-SjhjfMqNys1w77rMNZQIbc0fqWuGqRSNT3x_ttDu1v3ksuo66Daob3yQgOhkQFD7F1i7FKV4zn9MXPgRDR3xoFEIR3OPYKEI/s320/Vick+Lane+Turn+Sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vick Lane Turn Sign - oil on canvas 24" by 24"</td></tr>
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Road signs damaged by farm equipment or other traffic are also attractive as a painting subject. This turn sign painting at right is from an unpaved lane in Vick, LA where school buses and farm equipment pass often.<br />
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I enjoyed the challenge of showing the bends and tears in this sign.<br />
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Though road signs are a favorite feature of my road scape paintings, I'm also attracted to painting water towers in landscapes as well.</div>
buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-93516054968115522016-10-26T10:16:00.002-07:002017-02-14T07:59:10.613-08:00Watercolor Workshop with Randy Meador<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
I recently went to a watercolor workshop in <a href="http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/SaintJoTexas/SaintJoTexas.htm">Saint Jo, Texas</a>. Though I usually paint with acrylic paints, I was persuaded to attend this <a href="http://www.sjmainstreetgallery.com/exhibitions-1">workshop</a> because it boasted to be beneficial to painters of all media and highly entertaining as well. </div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">So off I went in late October to North Texas-</span></h4>
Watercolorist, <a href="http://randymeador.com/">Randy Meador,</a> taught this non-traditional watercolor workshop for 22 attendees at <a href="http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasArtists/Donna-Howell-Sickles.htm">Donna Howell-Sickles</a> church <a href="http://www.sjmainstreetgallery.com/about">studio in Saint Jo. </a><br />
He's a consummate cowboy artist as you can see by his Western attire.<br />
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But his pioneering attitude towards his art is authentic and endearing. Though he asserts he taught himself watercolor through books, he practiced and practiced until he was able to reproduce and achieve his desired effect.<br />
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His easy demeanor, affable nature and his natural "I know I'm easy on the eyes" charm, make this workshop a winner no matter what kind of artist you are!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy6EqivmiiDmrchZvyiaFw914fA7sxaQck7chltPedmXIsHSvwe1fn_TNj2RaQP-Q0BcEX3kpr6fqDyVLgMOnw_cmwlJ2uxvpmHWXJtRLrDt8PQRTKbuWu_ZRzi2LqB6eBlaGht6Ztpk/s1600/RandyM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy6EqivmiiDmrchZvyiaFw914fA7sxaQck7chltPedmXIsHSvwe1fn_TNj2RaQP-Q0BcEX3kpr6fqDyVLgMOnw_cmwlJ2uxvpmHWXJtRLrDt8PQRTKbuWu_ZRzi2LqB6eBlaGht6Ztpk/s320/RandyM.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Randy Meador</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">In medicine we have PEARLS - the nuggets of "can't forget wisdom" </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Here's Randy's watercolor pearls:</span></h3>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>let the pigments float and "do their thing" in the water - this gives a distinctly non-painterly technique. (We are water coloring - NOT painting.)</li>
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<li>NO WHITE paint! </li>
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<li>* if you need a white area - don't watercolor on it and let the paper show through OR watch Randy take out his enormous Bowie knife and scrape off a highlight on an earring or an eye! </li>
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</ul>
</ul>
<li>start with your lightest areas or "rooms" on your painting or sketch</li>
<li>creating these "rooms" on my sketch was quite helpful to give an area to let the watercolor happen </li>
<li>mix "buckets" of paint on your pallet before beginning your work - these buckets are within your pallet and should have perhaps two colors - that you are allowing to blend at their free will</li>
<li>use a mop approach with a large soft brush</li>
<li>work top down and do not go back into your watercolor area with your brush/mop</li>
<li>leaving one layer of watercolor allows the luminosity of the pigments to shine</li>
<li>he makes his pictures pop with a contrasting intense background of ivory black and prussian blue - warning: this inky background requires a lot of pigment! (Read lots of $)</li>
<li>"watercoloring" is accomplished when we walk away, fold our arms and let our paint dry before returning to the paint - so <a href="https://www.facebook.com/randy.meador.9">Randy</a> likes to have several paintings going at once.</li>
<li>don't be afraid to RUIN your painting! That's right - mess it up, ruin it - right at the start. This takes the pressure off of trying to perfect something - because you CAN'T CONTROL WATERCOLOR - this isn't painting. Let it go, let it be watercolor.</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMgns4Q8ebca_GfLT14fcPUjZVTV0QDwwyZqSn1ljgIaEdDPRnoONCJWJgSrP0YgSfSpyQ7910Z1XEuSvT5Pgku97qNuWO_X7vVonEzzVW66h5r3UfuYlWtaA2qsXzpXCjriXDS7NBmg/s1600/pallette.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMgns4Q8ebca_GfLT14fcPUjZVTV0QDwwyZqSn1ljgIaEdDPRnoONCJWJgSrP0YgSfSpyQ7910Z1XEuSvT5Pgku97qNuWO_X7vVonEzzVW66h5r3UfuYlWtaA2qsXzpXCjriXDS7NBmg/s200/pallette.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Randy's watercolor pallette</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Randy's unique approach to watercolor is... </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000;"> </span></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Brave and forthright but mysterious at the same time. </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">No two sketches, paintings or watercolors are identical - each has their own energy because he is free to let the watercolor do the work. No painting here. This is about a controlled relinquishment of design and painting, which is probably the toughest part of this workshop for many.</span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorHSuGo6LStfiOcrb-a5BVGIiM_Piqj-6N6kfNjqGW8WXRaBBVc-x1-mqxZFTJD-5al_0u-BRmHSbMx-kzfzon6JvRJTjwP-4SobPpvdyKp5OlJec_VkzrWbXMYf-q3XijcLfepc-lPM/s1600/Randy+grin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorHSuGo6LStfiOcrb-a5BVGIiM_Piqj-6N6kfNjqGW8WXRaBBVc-x1-mqxZFTJD-5al_0u-BRmHSbMx-kzfzon6JvRJTjwP-4SobPpvdyKp5OlJec_VkzrWbXMYf-q3XijcLfepc-lPM/s320/Randy+grin.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The impish grin</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">His work has a compelling vibrancy and light that is unmistakably his own. Look at his work and you will see it. Clearly after listening to him, I saw that this was achieved with much study, practice and hard work on his part. (Afterall, that is usually how one attains greatness.) </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">But I'm always in search of some shortcuts to fabulousness - so I went to this workshop.</span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">It was a success for me - because I had no bad habits to lose (in watercolor). No techniques or skills to depart from. I felt free to try his suggested technique and be ok - if I did nothing more than make a mess on some fairly costly watercolor paper (which I did). And now I will practice mixing colors, and making washes and reserving highlights at home in my <a href="http://buffchicliving.blogspot.com/2016/10/camp-effie-art-studio.html">Camp Effie Art Studio.</a></span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Best of all - I left with that "I must go home and make this happen" feeling. </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l5Vya5EB7RyKgnYtdkQppgPTStKx-ir64-VBEHuQK0m5khZZybdT_HT7KzFkxk5gzCCcRA3F1yU2Luh2b0GHSu2GSk0UpG2sRTuJIEjCiHXV667IUdWOaDf-o56T4Nce9DVjGoGyJBQ/s1600/Start.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l5Vya5EB7RyKgnYtdkQppgPTStKx-ir64-VBEHuQK0m5khZZybdT_HT7KzFkxk5gzCCcRA3F1yU2Luh2b0GHSu2GSk0UpG2sRTuJIEjCiHXV667IUdWOaDf-o56T4Nce9DVjGoGyJBQ/s320/Start.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1- Beginning - Randy does light room first</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamyDt2mbhcC73xTrcheTs_-U_1UoiwkltS7Dv1eH1mwnZbNe9jfbBkk6pF3pz_EhsHqUfpYMdtAuwqkSt0CKLCsZFpPRCYcmJ9Dlq2TKllcX7YxonMZY1PQR-U5xdK5edaU1xRq48MrQ/s1600/Next.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamyDt2mbhcC73xTrcheTs_-U_1UoiwkltS7Dv1eH1mwnZbNe9jfbBkk6pF3pz_EhsHqUfpYMdtAuwqkSt0CKLCsZFpPRCYcmJ9Dlq2TKllcX7YxonMZY1PQR-U5xdK5edaU1xRq48MrQ/s200/Next.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 - Next - he adds a darker room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpGzFWZTVK_yxoZPYxY88zwniooknVQ0nx72UaYI5nrBbhfuUc_2UsTkZYggHShg-XVDxa_-Iuwa1mzYm-QJZWEIISHNkzAyWTtKmvglnqHT64zj2cNTOW64-P5_lA8e7hUmOTw1kV_c/s1600/final+ink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpGzFWZTVK_yxoZPYxY88zwniooknVQ0nx72UaYI5nrBbhfuUc_2UsTkZYggHShg-XVDxa_-Iuwa1mzYm-QJZWEIISHNkzAyWTtKmvglnqHT64zj2cNTOW64-P5_lA8e7hUmOTw1kV_c/s320/final+ink.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 - Inky contrast added to make it pop</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Other fabulous bonuses:</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Seeing <a href="http://www.donnahowellsickles.com/studio.htm">Donna Howell-Sickles</a>, her <a href="http://www.sjmainstreetgallery.com/">gallery</a>, her studio again! She is such a pulled together lady and an incredible artist - visiting her studio is an inspiring privilege.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD6oA5v2iF4aDnT_DwkWEpYS8TZHqsDJqDE8ak7DXtWPgvZHha1Qrt2YzEhIu8EsNymX9Q3AVSQuqehSaUy9-v3eQIcaJxHiEzy2VYjVfixZZGte6AJivQ-GrRPBEPlx3OiHBlczYwOk/s1600/DonnaMe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD6oA5v2iF4aDnT_DwkWEpYS8TZHqsDJqDE8ak7DXtWPgvZHha1Qrt2YzEhIu8EsNymX9Q3AVSQuqehSaUy9-v3eQIcaJxHiEzy2VYjVfixZZGte6AJivQ-GrRPBEPlx3OiHBlczYwOk/s400/DonnaMe.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donna and me</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv9jX4y52KiJfbB6BqFREVu3OeeYCkNZyAhwZ8-4CYymLbbDgxjZC0EJa90X8iA4ltT8Se8rT0wHe_26T9Gh67gSc8S13xfrV8ebdZtvVxWaF3cVuAYhnJkK2PWwSzxc4_nMFkJCyZSs/s1600/Acrylic+liquid+paint.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv9jX4y52KiJfbB6BqFREVu3OeeYCkNZyAhwZ8-4CYymLbbDgxjZC0EJa90X8iA4ltT8Se8rT0wHe_26T9Gh67gSc8S13xfrV8ebdZtvVxWaF3cVuAYhnJkK2PWwSzxc4_nMFkJCyZSs/s200/Acrylic+liquid+paint.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP_n38R91zpomgLUXr7glkNoQVYvD0IUcj-jt6_YDG5Mq3fViS958t8nLKu6lTI9xGVusamlpRzkHwFANOlNlCuiZlSoHvVSS3yfrj_uhx8nvXYDSyTZZ7d0B3m7fmGolNeBVozzorGg/s1600/Vineyard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP_n38R91zpomgLUXr7glkNoQVYvD0IUcj-jt6_YDG5Mq3fViS958t8nLKu6lTI9xGVusamlpRzkHwFANOlNlCuiZlSoHvVSS3yfrj_uhx8nvXYDSyTZZ7d0B3m7fmGolNeBVozzorGg/s200/Vineyard.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine at Arche Vineyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaPTmaB0gWyhQ5ayysbv0BVFhelayq4mimjgvB7PEuDcTYRK6Rk83vR0UtmvF49_W-hPVob5jjGg4AzsZJIWsAg8-l9vsIoBEDpjPKIp_YaAG3VWkNXOgCV9wEr1WjqVoNdtpLPQu93I/s1600/friends.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaPTmaB0gWyhQ5ayysbv0BVFhelayq4mimjgvB7PEuDcTYRK6Rk83vR0UtmvF49_W-hPVob5jjGg4AzsZJIWsAg8-l9vsIoBEDpjPKIp_YaAG3VWkNXOgCV9wEr1WjqVoNdtpLPQu93I/s320/friends.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New friends</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZkKBGgMTA-YMHriQCsVANqsehpTCr7U-xlPwYbTeAOEozoTSPsBiz3kof80bffLMS-NIEXAMh9autmAIfoFbqFdheuINzjFhLfPoU-9X-zaEmd3XCuhmHhYii8M1GdpTYvLMbSx635w/s1600/Cheese+board.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZkKBGgMTA-YMHriQCsVANqsehpTCr7U-xlPwYbTeAOEozoTSPsBiz3kof80bffLMS-NIEXAMh9autmAIfoFbqFdheuINzjFhLfPoU-9X-zaEmd3XCuhmHhYii8M1GdpTYvLMbSx635w/s320/Cheese+board.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low carb cheeseboard at Arche Vineyard</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxB_IJvyd4BiF1zUy8742z52bCf2e_D3THIPprkGayJbR8cnhZh40aZY57PbJaW9XSBjeF6ljLOYlThBcF_N2sKq9uZ8AAg6Gg0csa9fYS4A67WnMrMitGKAsgmEsD7s6vK9A0AkhLR4/s1600/in+progress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxB_IJvyd4BiF1zUy8742z52bCf2e_D3THIPprkGayJbR8cnhZh40aZY57PbJaW9XSBjeF6ljLOYlThBcF_N2sKq9uZ8AAg6Gg0csa9fYS4A67WnMrMitGKAsgmEsD7s6vK9A0AkhLR4/s320/in+progress.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longhorn in progress</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhWTq7XYKdvsS_NhQf1fkJA7UU8ianw1IUAkMrmRZAbp2mdTBLJteaGZvi8BgCJ7na286nKmn9KooItbnVpozvMoO31BbP_0dvMa7AzcHEQqq3Ey4fEX7xKev5H1QZUDmw1_eVFPEtZc/s1600/workshop+participants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhWTq7XYKdvsS_NhQf1fkJA7UU8ianw1IUAkMrmRZAbp2mdTBLJteaGZvi8BgCJ7na286nKmn9KooItbnVpozvMoO31BbP_0dvMa7AzcHEQqq3Ey4fEX7xKev5H1QZUDmw1_eVFPEtZc/s640/workshop+participants.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Workshop participants hard at work</td></tr>
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-38913587096405614752016-10-26T10:16:00.001-07:002016-10-28T07:16:22.703-07:00Watercolor Workshop at Davis & Blevins Gallery with Randy Meador<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I recently went to a watercolor workshop in <a href="http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/SaintJoTexas/SaintJoTexas.htm">Saint Jo, Texas</a>. Though I usually paint with acrylic paints, I was persuaded to attend this <a href="http://www.sjmainstreetgallery.com/exhibitions-1">workshop</a> because it boasted to be beneficial to painters of all media and highly entertaining as well. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUouQBuSAOS5SYP6C7fQUEa-MNGpEnPWOQX5SA0etoTL4Usik8AlcCxJ2LZI4mN3WUIxiIF3u0P5YGW6ETgfnJkKLWKcRqQsi8crm9-SjntLpOC6Iqdx76w6HW47oFDpdFMMIOb5ufhOs/s1600/fall+pumpkin+display.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUouQBuSAOS5SYP6C7fQUEa-MNGpEnPWOQX5SA0etoTL4Usik8AlcCxJ2LZI4mN3WUIxiIF3u0P5YGW6ETgfnJkKLWKcRqQsi8crm9-SjntLpOC6Iqdx76w6HW47oFDpdFMMIOb5ufhOs/s200/fall+pumpkin+display.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">So off I went in late October to North Texas-</span></h4>
Watercolorist, <a href="http://randymeador.com/">Randy Meador,</a> taught this non-traditional watercolor workshop for 22 attendees at <a href="http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasArtists/Donna-Howell-Sickles.htm">Donna Howell-Sickles</a> church <a href="http://www.sjmainstreetgallery.com/about">studio in Saint Jo. </a><br />
He's a consummate cowboy artist as you can see by his Western attire.<br />
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But his pioneering attitude towards his art is authentic and endearing. Though he asserts he taught himself watercolor through books, he practiced and practiced until he was able to reproduce and achieve his desired effect.<br />
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His easy demeanor, affable nature and his natural "I know I'm easy on the eyes" charm, make this workshop a winner no matter what kind of artist you are!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy6EqivmiiDmrchZvyiaFw914fA7sxaQck7chltPedmXIsHSvwe1fn_TNj2RaQP-Q0BcEX3kpr6fqDyVLgMOnw_cmwlJ2uxvpmHWXJtRLrDt8PQRTKbuWu_ZRzi2LqB6eBlaGht6Ztpk/s1600/RandyM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy6EqivmiiDmrchZvyiaFw914fA7sxaQck7chltPedmXIsHSvwe1fn_TNj2RaQP-Q0BcEX3kpr6fqDyVLgMOnw_cmwlJ2uxvpmHWXJtRLrDt8PQRTKbuWu_ZRzi2LqB6eBlaGht6Ztpk/s320/RandyM.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Randy Meador</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">In medicine we have PEARLS - the nuggets of "can't forget wisdom" </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Here's Randy's watercolor pearls:</span></h3>
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<li>let the pigments float and "do their thing" in the water - this gives a distinctly non-painterly technique.</li>
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<li>NO WHITE paint! </li>
<ul>
<li>* if you need a white area - don't watercolor on it and let the paper show through OR watch Randy take out his enormous Bowie knife and scrape off a highlight on an earring or an eye! </li>
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<li>start with your lightest areas or "rooms" on your painting or sketch</li>
<li>creating these "rooms" on my sketch was quite helpful to give an area to let the watercolor happen (stand with folded arms)</li>
<li>mix "buckets" of paint on your pallet before beginning your work - these buckets are within your pallet and should have perhaps two colors - that you are allowing to blend at their free will</li>
<li>use a mop approach with a large soft brush</li>
<li>work top down and do not go back into your watercolor area with your brush/mop</li>
<li>leaving one layer of watercolor allows the luminosity of the pigments to shine</li>
<li>he makes his pictures pop with a contrasting intense background of ivory black and Prussian blue - warning: this inky background requires a lot of pigment!</li>
<li>"watercoloring" is accomplished when we walk away, fold our arms and let our paint dry before returning to the paint - so <a href="https://www.facebook.com/randy.meador.9">Randy</a> likes to have several paintings going at once.</li>
<li>don't be afraid to RUIN your painting! That's right - mess it up, ruin it - right at the start. This takes the pressure off of trying to perfect something - because you CAN'T CONTROL WATERCOLOR - this isn't painting. Let it go, let it be watercolor.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMgns4Q8ebca_GfLT14fcPUjZVTV0QDwwyZqSn1ljgIaEdDPRnoONCJWJgSrP0YgSfSpyQ7910Z1XEuSvT5Pgku97qNuWO_X7vVonEzzVW66h5r3UfuYlWtaA2qsXzpXCjriXDS7NBmg/s1600/pallette.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMgns4Q8ebca_GfLT14fcPUjZVTV0QDwwyZqSn1ljgIaEdDPRnoONCJWJgSrP0YgSfSpyQ7910Z1XEuSvT5Pgku97qNuWO_X7vVonEzzVW66h5r3UfuYlWtaA2qsXzpXCjriXDS7NBmg/s200/pallette.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Randy's watercolor pallette</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Randy's unique approach to watercolor is... </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Brave and forthright but mysterious at the same time. </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">No two sketches, paintings or watercolors are identical - each has their own energy because he is free to let the watercolor do the work. No painting here. This is about a controlled relinquishment of design and painting, which is probably the toughest part of this workshop for many.</span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorHSuGo6LStfiOcrb-a5BVGIiM_Piqj-6N6kfNjqGW8WXRaBBVc-x1-mqxZFTJD-5al_0u-BRmHSbMx-kzfzon6JvRJTjwP-4SobPpvdyKp5OlJec_VkzrWbXMYf-q3XijcLfepc-lPM/s1600/Randy+grin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorHSuGo6LStfiOcrb-a5BVGIiM_Piqj-6N6kfNjqGW8WXRaBBVc-x1-mqxZFTJD-5al_0u-BRmHSbMx-kzfzon6JvRJTjwP-4SobPpvdyKp5OlJec_VkzrWbXMYf-q3XijcLfepc-lPM/s320/Randy+grin.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The impish grin</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">His work has a compelling vibrancy and light that is unmistakably his own. Look at his work and you will see it. Clearly after listening to him, I saw that this was achieved with much study, practice and hard work on his part. (Afterall, that is usually how one attains greatness.) </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">But I'm always in search of some shortcuts to fabulousness - so I went to this workshop.</span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">It was a success for me - because I had no bad habits to lose (in watercolor). No techniques or skills to depart from. I felt free to try his suggested technique and be ok - if I did nothing more than make a mess on some fairly costly watercolor paper (which I did). And now I will practice mixing colors, and making washes and reserving highlights at home in my <a href="http://buffchicliving.blogspot.com/2016/10/camp-effie-art-studio.html">Camp Effie Art Studio.</a></span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Best of all - I left with that "I must go home and make this happen" feeling. </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h4>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l5Vya5EB7RyKgnYtdkQppgPTStKx-ir64-VBEHuQK0m5khZZybdT_HT7KzFkxk5gzCCcRA3F1yU2Luh2b0GHSu2GSk0UpG2sRTuJIEjCiHXV667IUdWOaDf-o56T4Nce9DVjGoGyJBQ/s1600/Start.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2l5Vya5EB7RyKgnYtdkQppgPTStKx-ir64-VBEHuQK0m5khZZybdT_HT7KzFkxk5gzCCcRA3F1yU2Luh2b0GHSu2GSk0UpG2sRTuJIEjCiHXV667IUdWOaDf-o56T4Nce9DVjGoGyJBQ/s320/Start.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1- Beginning - Randy does light room first</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamyDt2mbhcC73xTrcheTs_-U_1UoiwkltS7Dv1eH1mwnZbNe9jfbBkk6pF3pz_EhsHqUfpYMdtAuwqkSt0CKLCsZFpPRCYcmJ9Dlq2TKllcX7YxonMZY1PQR-U5xdK5edaU1xRq48MrQ/s1600/Next.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamyDt2mbhcC73xTrcheTs_-U_1UoiwkltS7Dv1eH1mwnZbNe9jfbBkk6pF3pz_EhsHqUfpYMdtAuwqkSt0CKLCsZFpPRCYcmJ9Dlq2TKllcX7YxonMZY1PQR-U5xdK5edaU1xRq48MrQ/s200/Next.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 - Next - he adds a darker room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpGzFWZTVK_yxoZPYxY88zwniooknVQ0nx72UaYI5nrBbhfuUc_2UsTkZYggHShg-XVDxa_-Iuwa1mzYm-QJZWEIISHNkzAyWTtKmvglnqHT64zj2cNTOW64-P5_lA8e7hUmOTw1kV_c/s1600/final+ink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpGzFWZTVK_yxoZPYxY88zwniooknVQ0nx72UaYI5nrBbhfuUc_2UsTkZYggHShg-XVDxa_-Iuwa1mzYm-QJZWEIISHNkzAyWTtKmvglnqHT64zj2cNTOW64-P5_lA8e7hUmOTw1kV_c/s320/final+ink.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 - Inky contrast added to make it pop</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Other fabulous bonuses:</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Seeing <a href="http://www.donnahowellsickles.com/studio.htm">Donna Howell-Sickles</a>, her <a href="http://www.sjmainstreetgallery.com/">gallery</a>, her studio again! She is such a pulled together lady and an incredible artist - visiting her studio is an inspiring privilege.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD6oA5v2iF4aDnT_DwkWEpYS8TZHqsDJqDE8ak7DXtWPgvZHha1Qrt2YzEhIu8EsNymX9Q3AVSQuqehSaUy9-v3eQIcaJxHiEzy2VYjVfixZZGte6AJivQ-GrRPBEPlx3OiHBlczYwOk/s1600/DonnaMe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPD6oA5v2iF4aDnT_DwkWEpYS8TZHqsDJqDE8ak7DXtWPgvZHha1Qrt2YzEhIu8EsNymX9Q3AVSQuqehSaUy9-v3eQIcaJxHiEzy2VYjVfixZZGte6AJivQ-GrRPBEPlx3OiHBlczYwOk/s400/DonnaMe.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donna and me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv9jX4y52KiJfbB6BqFREVu3OeeYCkNZyAhwZ8-4CYymLbbDgxjZC0EJa90X8iA4ltT8Se8rT0wHe_26T9Gh67gSc8S13xfrV8ebdZtvVxWaF3cVuAYhnJkK2PWwSzxc4_nMFkJCyZSs/s1600/Acrylic+liquid+paint.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv9jX4y52KiJfbB6BqFREVu3OeeYCkNZyAhwZ8-4CYymLbbDgxjZC0EJa90X8iA4ltT8Se8rT0wHe_26T9Gh67gSc8S13xfrV8ebdZtvVxWaF3cVuAYhnJkK2PWwSzxc4_nMFkJCyZSs/s200/Acrylic+liquid+paint.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP_n38R91zpomgLUXr7glkNoQVYvD0IUcj-jt6_YDG5Mq3fViS958t8nLKu6lTI9xGVusamlpRzkHwFANOlNlCuiZlSoHvVSS3yfrj_uhx8nvXYDSyTZZ7d0B3m7fmGolNeBVozzorGg/s1600/Vineyard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP_n38R91zpomgLUXr7glkNoQVYvD0IUcj-jt6_YDG5Mq3fViS958t8nLKu6lTI9xGVusamlpRzkHwFANOlNlCuiZlSoHvVSS3yfrj_uhx8nvXYDSyTZZ7d0B3m7fmGolNeBVozzorGg/s200/Vineyard.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine at Arche Vineyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaPTmaB0gWyhQ5ayysbv0BVFhelayq4mimjgvB7PEuDcTYRK6Rk83vR0UtmvF49_W-hPVob5jjGg4AzsZJIWsAg8-l9vsIoBEDpjPKIp_YaAG3VWkNXOgCV9wEr1WjqVoNdtpLPQu93I/s1600/friends.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaPTmaB0gWyhQ5ayysbv0BVFhelayq4mimjgvB7PEuDcTYRK6Rk83vR0UtmvF49_W-hPVob5jjGg4AzsZJIWsAg8-l9vsIoBEDpjPKIp_YaAG3VWkNXOgCV9wEr1WjqVoNdtpLPQu93I/s320/friends.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New friends</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZkKBGgMTA-YMHriQCsVANqsehpTCr7U-xlPwYbTeAOEozoTSPsBiz3kof80bffLMS-NIEXAMh9autmAIfoFbqFdheuINzjFhLfPoU-9X-zaEmd3XCuhmHhYii8M1GdpTYvLMbSx635w/s1600/Cheese+board.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZkKBGgMTA-YMHriQCsVANqsehpTCr7U-xlPwYbTeAOEozoTSPsBiz3kof80bffLMS-NIEXAMh9autmAIfoFbqFdheuINzjFhLfPoU-9X-zaEmd3XCuhmHhYii8M1GdpTYvLMbSx635w/s320/Cheese+board.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low carb cheeseboard at Arche Vineyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxB_IJvyd4BiF1zUy8742z52bCf2e_D3THIPprkGayJbR8cnhZh40aZY57PbJaW9XSBjeF6ljLOYlThBcF_N2sKq9uZ8AAg6Gg0csa9fYS4A67WnMrMitGKAsgmEsD7s6vK9A0AkhLR4/s1600/in+progress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxB_IJvyd4BiF1zUy8742z52bCf2e_D3THIPprkGayJbR8cnhZh40aZY57PbJaW9XSBjeF6ljLOYlThBcF_N2sKq9uZ8AAg6Gg0csa9fYS4A67WnMrMitGKAsgmEsD7s6vK9A0AkhLR4/s320/in+progress.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longhorn in progress</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhWTq7XYKdvsS_NhQf1fkJA7UU8ianw1IUAkMrmRZAbp2mdTBLJteaGZvi8BgCJ7na286nKmn9KooItbnVpozvMoO31BbP_0dvMa7AzcHEQqq3Ey4fEX7xKev5H1QZUDmw1_eVFPEtZc/s1600/workshop+participants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhWTq7XYKdvsS_NhQf1fkJA7UU8ianw1IUAkMrmRZAbp2mdTBLJteaGZvi8BgCJ7na286nKmn9KooItbnVpozvMoO31BbP_0dvMa7AzcHEQqq3Ey4fEX7xKev5H1QZUDmw1_eVFPEtZc/s640/workshop+participants.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Workshop participants hard at work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-78599871836870502302016-10-20T19:13:00.003-07:002016-10-26T10:25:17.169-07:00Camp Effie Art Studio <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhjQUUb7QrK8DvMTNgV0oz8HjuPOop7nGv-YAWcjNL77EDpBhwkN408b8VodDH2svs9RFRqnfIPaORSml_jYQdySFNO0xqhqKMmdj1L1RnlAl1wSYbVYYLF0BM-OeHXQpyVj_zsJOZcs/s1600/IMG_3114.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhjQUUb7QrK8DvMTNgV0oz8HjuPOop7nGv-YAWcjNL77EDpBhwkN408b8VodDH2svs9RFRqnfIPaORSml_jYQdySFNO0xqhqKMmdj1L1RnlAl1wSYbVYYLF0BM-OeHXQpyVj_zsJOZcs/s320/IMG_3114.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Nutmeg</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dvKiDeDZEbiKzqp0A7X0ZVmeMx3vqVHj9jkBWFDv6KerlIPlwJ2YdjnLI_5zIv4bBka4AhzF3dG3nDVvoZamS_Fjvruxrgszn8GgDhuAxvgD-Qxq9OugZ4offSxgrDSl6KTsuNbf_oI/s320/Camp+Effie+Art+Studio+Logo+FINAL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/campeffieartstudio/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel">https://www.facebook.com/campeffieartstudio/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel</a></span></div>
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</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlkblsS_JW2CzQehma7rncqtehXLODFJdwvPY7Y6pTpce-Mp97vcuXFvnIL0sv7uN0LBYkMguYQP0ybcMJBHcc1252PMX4812jR81jDa-ch6idafVhPB_40sRHblQCvaXEdy7cDSjkZU/s1600/ET.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlkblsS_JW2CzQehma7rncqtehXLODFJdwvPY7Y6pTpce-Mp97vcuXFvnIL0sv7uN0LBYkMguYQP0ybcMJBHcc1252PMX4812jR81jDa-ch6idafVhPB_40sRHblQCvaXEdy7cDSjkZU/s320/ET.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything Bagel on red - acrylic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
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</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;">
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</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Goat selfies</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Okay, let's get it out in the open - I love goats. </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
They are expressive, intelligent pets and provide us hours of entertainment with their antics.</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
We take lots of pictures of our goats - as many of you may take pictures of your dog, cat or grandchild. </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
My goats got a selfie stick!!!! </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Goat selfies happened! </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5gu8ne5xlS4pNH0ebFpp9u0wErMEXQJF594DgZQZ0tjpZdv1OL3jpMR5EcajlSS5820LKnISsnH0OZXFRagJBWigoOZKaNI8Oen0SwuIJe0EggF4Yf4P4L9-rZIhRZypTIIBeDaYmuQ/s1600/IMG_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5gu8ne5xlS4pNH0ebFpp9u0wErMEXQJF594DgZQZ0tjpZdv1OL3jpMR5EcajlSS5820LKnISsnH0OZXFRagJBWigoOZKaNI8Oen0SwuIJe0EggF4Yf4P4L9-rZIhRZypTIIBeDaYmuQ/s320/IMG_2576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupxkT9w0V-8FnmBvCbIPPczrZ0I6onC7ZCplR8QFCYdPVaATUPaMl8mleGHs3ixjva3N597KVIYQ4xAfgoJXbecFfUvNnh1PuwuKtcWwMUikklyUXd94-qfMN4Plvm936UBZ4PEGsLT0/s1600/Goat+Selfie+Yellow.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupxkT9w0V-8FnmBvCbIPPczrZ0I6onC7ZCplR8QFCYdPVaATUPaMl8mleGHs3ixjva3N597KVIYQ4xAfgoJXbecFfUvNnh1PuwuKtcWwMUikklyUXd94-qfMN4Plvm936UBZ4PEGsLT0/s320/Goat+Selfie+Yellow.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow goat - acrylic</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClBuAT3x-C8EgqLu6GEp4ynu2kHavJZkcA6cxM-br8EBTGQh5cmxjG2OjS30RlgWtvvR_YwMwzV47g6kLQUz_beB1mcsbouNiPj3UA1Q2iwCkCz8bDHliqOyTw7gKLRCr7t5qwQ_a3KU/s1600/Goat+Selfie+Blue.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClBuAT3x-C8EgqLu6GEp4ynu2kHavJZkcA6cxM-br8EBTGQh5cmxjG2OjS30RlgWtvvR_YwMwzV47g6kLQUz_beB1mcsbouNiPj3UA1Q2iwCkCz8bDHliqOyTw7gKLRCr7t5qwQ_a3KU/s320/Goat+Selfie+Blue.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whitey goat on blue - acylic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
And I started painting goat selfies recently and it turned into an obsession with those goofy faces, innocent smiles and horizontal eyes. </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/buffchic/">Follow me and my goats on Instagram:</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/buffchic/">https://www.instagram.com/buffchic/</a> </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLlWdIoMYdxYs8zkxNlMVX3w6mhnDqoaMgEcbghFaz-p5CTjNP1rD2GYaUBaAj-jwxKy5tb7_bFvNXIXQJlohyiaOyiJwvVbvFwt6D71q6fbm1pho0Gr2Lf9LWMa4Di9_BVNN6awRcGM/s1600/IMG_2586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLlWdIoMYdxYs8zkxNlMVX3w6mhnDqoaMgEcbghFaz-p5CTjNP1rD2GYaUBaAj-jwxKy5tb7_bFvNXIXQJlohyiaOyiJwvVbvFwt6D71q6fbm1pho0Gr2Lf9LWMa4Di9_BVNN6awRcGM/s1600/IMG_2586.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buttercup</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
I love pictures of goats and enjoy hearing about goats who are loved and pampered. Please feel free to share your goat pictures. </h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoddJgqjVPOCK3Ja6-4MYWgBmfXpd09fSDu088tlXFGScpnNof0EgNlndxIqo90p-HeSHA482RoxcrG4zzaj6TcNiNXMFxvkihclw8mccXqv9k_KtKvrJyvQltZefR78zKCNc8zqv5UE/s1600/Goat+selfie+white.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoddJgqjVPOCK3Ja6-4MYWgBmfXpd09fSDu088tlXFGScpnNof0EgNlndxIqo90p-HeSHA482RoxcrG4zzaj6TcNiNXMFxvkihclw8mccXqv9k_KtKvrJyvQltZefR78zKCNc8zqv5UE/s320/Goat+selfie+white.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whitey Goat reaching for a tree - acrylic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
</h4>
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-90028891533583718832016-10-17T09:11:00.001-07:002016-10-31T07:21:06.238-07:00Angola Prison Rodeo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">50th anniversary Angola Prison Rodeo</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGj533vcGWImBJFRAoJu6hNbFH2F1jVyf0wzM723LHHr6LXtZRriIUQCKzgQCn6UQYljx1AMZFHxABxiDZRXfCrQ25P6z-gnXsavbwo8OWjQyJmbZUA6RcuZhSGd-IUDjXHbD2VZCQ5Y/s1600/redwagon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGj533vcGWImBJFRAoJu6hNbFH2F1jVyf0wzM723LHHr6LXtZRriIUQCKzgQCn6UQYljx1AMZFHxABxiDZRXfCrQ25P6z-gnXsavbwo8OWjQyJmbZUA6RcuZhSGd-IUDjXHbD2VZCQ5Y/s400/redwagon.jpg" width="400" /><span style="background-color: white;"></span></a></div>
<span id="goog_600696421"></span><span id="goog_600696422"></span></span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">My visit to the 18,000 acre prison farm and the spectacle of the <a href="http://angolarodeo.com/?q=Advertise">Angola Prison Rodeo </a>billed as the "wildest show in the South" where inmates get airborne.</span></span></h3>
<br />
The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola_Prison_Rodeo">oldest operating prison rodeo</a> in America runs <a href="http://www.angolarodeo.com/">every Sunday in October and one Sunday in April </a>and features the Angola Rough Riders, corny rodeo clown jokes and the raw energy of bull riders, trick riders, inmate pinball and <a href="http://angolarodeo.com/?q=Events">chariot racing</a>.<br />
<br />
This is classic showmanship, raw theater in a unique art form. But
politically correct it is NOT and many of those rodeo clown jokes are
not respectful to women! So BEWARE!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.angolarodeo.com/">Angola Prison Rodeo</a> and inmates competing in bull dogging, wild cow milking, bust out and bareback riding. The rodeo wraps up with their version of <a href="http://www.angolamuseum.org/history/archived-articles/rodeo-history/">"guts & glory"</a> where inmates struggle to grab a red chip from the forehead of a Brahmin bull to earn themselves a $500 prize. The day we went - two inmates shared the final prize after a group of ten inmates tackled the bull and held him down while they grabbed the "chip" proving rodeo is a team event.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKY_YzJgXj5mIXpIUObzcxe84zr0MxH4gwezteyN56YsXedYIq7j1jDeFXzYKpLPC8wqWWyO8z2XMvxMi_ucRWMf6WJoyRWjXIhFoBGBQKYREI_YI4koBjCYWZIIwpQNg8qv2JXy6MOcE/s1600/rodeo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKY_YzJgXj5mIXpIUObzcxe84zr0MxH4gwezteyN56YsXedYIq7j1jDeFXzYKpLPC8wqWWyO8z2XMvxMi_ucRWMf6WJoyRWjXIhFoBGBQKYREI_YI4koBjCYWZIIwpQNg8qv2JXy6MOcE/s400/rodeo.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Angola Rough Riders.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSJEs__I7MF99ypdoi_ZSVid8K5WS5vF_k3P1XsMPqFWv-lFlpxB-D4ZBDp93lW0oATPT0xBkramtI4eJwypdW8Aw-f27hoTGUL2GjDeOxhXY3OWvlrL-wF-3YzEbgcAWfkq2YdpfoHQ/s1600/RodeoWrangler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSJEs__I7MF99ypdoi_ZSVid8K5WS5vF_k3P1XsMPqFWv-lFlpxB-D4ZBDp93lW0oATPT0xBkramtI4eJwypdW8Aw-f27hoTGUL2GjDeOxhXY3OWvlrL-wF-3YzEbgcAWfkq2YdpfoHQ/s400/RodeoWrangler.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rodeo wrangler prepares to rope a steer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The history here is deep and sometimes dark - this <a href="http://www.eclectique916.com/2016/09/21/the-smithsonian-nmaahc-experiencing-a-work-in-progress/">recent article</a> references the watch tower at Angola at the new African American museum.<br />
<br />
Though we did not get to visit the <a href="http://www.angolamuseum.org/about-us/about-the-museum/">Angola museum</a> this time we hope to in the future.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-S_vm6shyphenhyphenI4Hn9Vq7xBOlpj3Py1_Z4sZwWRdZkEB9F-n0qzPU6QY8JJAVdRXOkG6UHBDREMaWxyOwpQmGrQaH_TUltuRsEompREhKcVqqCOqTqd_BaX2YAWx9E_zaBEUw04JJBVOrqQ/s1600/rodeoaction.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-S_vm6shyphenhyphenI4Hn9Vq7xBOlpj3Py1_Z4sZwWRdZkEB9F-n0qzPU6QY8JJAVdRXOkG6UHBDREMaWxyOwpQmGrQaH_TUltuRsEompREhKcVqqCOqTqd_BaX2YAWx9E_zaBEUw04JJBVOrqQ/s640/rodeoaction.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Event: Wild Horse Race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzW-8_V5TQpwKfwT6eDDlo0bVhVLACztORfyonGf5Pws7BzMhtzgzJJ5WQuMoJz8VxBInfw7swS30G9JdnyE6F_6O25iJy2Oy9P4Y3zKLMlvSRi9aSfuMZrEy4_lmNJhN_wYMIELOSqFo/s1600/foodphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzW-8_V5TQpwKfwT6eDDlo0bVhVLACztORfyonGf5Pws7BzMhtzgzJJ5WQuMoJz8VxBInfw7swS30G9JdnyE6F_6O25iJy2Oy9P4Y3zKLMlvSRi9aSfuMZrEy4_lmNJhN_wYMIELOSqFo/s320/foodphoto.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband getting his hog fix.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Did I mention the food?! Inmate groups sell all manner of fair type food to raise money for their organizations - prices are reasonable and lines are short.<br />
<br />
There's cracklins, boudin, barbecued shrimp, sweet tea and ice cream. And if that's not enough for you, and it wasn't for my husband, try the <b><span style="color: #990000;">TRIPLE HOG SANDWICH</span></b> featuring ham, barbeque pulled pork, bacon and grilled onions on an onion roll. You only live once!<br />
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We enjoyed the (free) <a href="http://us.geoview.info/angola_ferry,132683864w">ferry ride</a> across the Mississippi river in our car - neat experience the movement of the river in such a quiet format and seeing what prison employees experience daily as they commute to work from the north side of the penitentiary.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvAhC3kTIXtAyrlcbSN2QKjAoyW4ifwcZ59iTVBkZnh4GP-67g0Mi9IS3o5WSdtzkJEc-u9RY1nv8y3tnmJsN7cmbzFQx5Rl2mXRuL7xwraQcEgLNAoapQCP0_b1TGB21QMXhUNsMEX8/s1600/ferry+ride.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvAhC3kTIXtAyrlcbSN2QKjAoyW4ifwcZ59iTVBkZnh4GP-67g0Mi9IS3o5WSdtzkJEc-u9RY1nv8y3tnmJsN7cmbzFQx5Rl2mXRuL7xwraQcEgLNAoapQCP0_b1TGB21QMXhUNsMEX8/s320/ferry+ride.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the ferry boat ride across Mississippi River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There's also plants for sale here- yes, plants grown at the prison's greenhouse - a big selection, too!<br />
<br />
Many come for the arts and crafts. (A $10 ticket if you are not attending the rodeo.) Paintings, leather belts, etched wood, wood crafts, and inmate crafted furniture are popular choices. You will see many families arriving in their pick up trucks pulling trailers who are clearly ready to shop!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AgWs0MBUHWkADBEeriUnjzGiynJHPYDpB9Wphb1Jp-b2jl3F-ZsugyKBhiASlXS6GEXcy8zWsbUGxn4OS4fXWoHXD_6Rup6aLLdZ2o4grxDHLQHJeJUO5k3KHX5yaUhBzcop0imQw-E/s1600/LSUatrodeo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AgWs0MBUHWkADBEeriUnjzGiynJHPYDpB9Wphb1Jp-b2jl3F-ZsugyKBhiASlXS6GEXcy8zWsbUGxn4OS4fXWoHXD_6Rup6aLLdZ2o4grxDHLQHJeJUO5k3KHX5yaUhBzcop0imQw-E/s320/LSUatrodeo.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angola Prison Rodeo LSU fan selfie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-39772141758408216282016-10-05T18:58:00.001-07:002016-10-06T11:55:28.124-07:00Low Carb Manti Turkish Meat Dumplings in Tomato Butter Sauce<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Low Carb Manti with Yogurt Sauce and Tomato Butter Sauce</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I found this recipe for <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/manti-tomato-butter-and-yogurt">Turkish Manti</a> on the <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/turkish-recipes/4?xid=NL_DAILY092716">Food & Wine site</a> and decided to try converting it to a low carb meal. It worked!<br />
<br />
We found it so delicious even my son, who is not on low carb diet, found this keto converted meal delectable.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This savory meat dish has just the right balance of acid and fat from the tomato and yogurt. I used ground beef for the meat filling (and meatballs) but I'm sure ground lamb or ground pork would be tasty as well.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It is a multi step recipe - but quite doable - and well worth the effort!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaxxQwi_m2zvPfFf2QLBL4qYTm0uWSJnI9D5IM4Scr-4lqGBCCD61Hm7yi03RdLh6i5DseS8iaGif6z13AhwtdGMJqRfasq-kw1x9VUkW7879lxTuiaPMceW1TpyKrQH3ptJeUTZXlfw/s1600/turkish-manti-web-final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwaxxQwi_m2zvPfFf2QLBL4qYTm0uWSJnI9D5IM4Scr-4lqGBCCD61Hm7yi03RdLh6i5DseS8iaGif6z13AhwtdGMJqRfasq-kw1x9VUkW7879lxTuiaPMceW1TpyKrQH3ptJeUTZXlfw/s320/turkish-manti-web-final.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admittedly this is a stock photo- we ate ours before taking pics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Make the dough first, then the meat filling and the two sauces.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Dough<span itemprop="ingredients"> </span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">1 cup plus almond flour, plus more for dusting</span><span itemprop="ingredients"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">2 tbsp coconut flour </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">1 egg</span><span itemprop="ingredients"> </span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">5 tblsp water or as much as needed to make dough form into a ball </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">1/8 teaspoon kosher salt </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">Combine all the dough ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined. It will form a moist dough. Form it into a ball with your hands. Traditional recipes with regular flour have you kneading it on a floured board- but I found this was unnecessary with the almond flour. Let the ball of dough rest in the bowl where you prepare the meat filling.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">Meat Mixture</span></h3>
<span itemprop="ingredients">1/2 pound ground beef
</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">1 small onion, grated
</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">3 tblsp minced parsley
</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">1 teaspoon kosher salt
</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">1/4 teaspoon pepper</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">Combine all ingredients for the meat mixture in a bowl and mix well. Mixture will be stiff- best to finish the mixing process with your hands.</span><br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">Yogurt Sauce</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">1 c. Greek yogurt </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">(keep in mind that any yogurt can be made into "greek style" by simply straining it and letting some of the water drain out.) note: I used Bulgarian yogurt because it is lower carbs- plus I just really like it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">1-2 cloves of finely grated garlic (depending on your taste for garlic choose 1 or 2)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">Kosher salt to taste</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">Combine all ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to plate.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">Tomato Butter Sauce</span></h3>
<span itemprop="ingredients">4 tblsp unsalted butter
</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">2 tblsp tomato sauce
</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">1 teaspoon paprika
</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">Dried mint and Aleppo pepper, for garnish *note:</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients"><br /></span>
<span itemprop="ingredients">*note: I did not have dried mint and Aleppo pepper on hand. I substituted tarragon and ancho chili powder - putting just a light dusting across each bowl as I served it.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="steps-list__item__text">In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Stir in tomato sauce 
and paprika and keep warm.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients">Preparing the dumpling dough and meat filling:</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text">On a lightly floured work surface,
pat out the dough to roughly1/16 inch thick.
(You will probably not get this soft low carb dough to go that thin - but do the best you can.) Cut the dough into 2-inch squares. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text">Spoon 
1/2 teaspoon of the filling
in the center of each square. To form the manti, fold the dough over the
filling to form a triangle; press the edges together to seal. Transfer
the manti to a slightly greased baking sheet.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text">Bake the manti dumplings on baking sheet in 350 degree oven for about 8-10 minutes. Yes, the meat cooks inside the dumplings!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text">note: Traditional recipes boil the manti - but I found that my almond flour dough disintegrated in the boiling water. So I worked out a wonderful compromise. I baked the manti then made the remaining meat mixture -because I had extra- into small meatballs (1 scant tblsp each) and boiled them in salted boiling water. I served these meatballs alongside the manti - and they were terrific. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text">Boil meatballs in salted water as above- they will rise to the top of the boiling water when done - about 5-8 minutes depending on size.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text">Remove the meatballs with a slotted spoon and serve in a shallow bowl with the baked manti, spoon on the yogurt sauce and swirl in the warm tomato butter sauce and garnish with a sprinkle of tarragon and chili powder or dried mint and Aleppo pepper if you have access to it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="steps-list__item__text"><br /></span></div>
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<span itemprop="ingredients"> </span></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span itemprop="ingredients"><br /></span></div>
</div>
buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-87265541873671154772016-10-03T08:12:00.001-07:002016-10-03T08:24:57.176-07:00Low carb Keto Chicken Tacos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqHdzbSxGXEqQdwULTczvFxHlf2CWBFIDMeQQdnMbyIugZQbGczzd56c5x_LvR5w55bp6FkFc3D1BiFcOsi2gS9bV9cxe2lvexscwJAjXAApQFEA49Q57wvXIGXTkBs68icsz81ltXCA/s1600/ChickenTaco.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqHdzbSxGXEqQdwULTczvFxHlf2CWBFIDMeQQdnMbyIugZQbGczzd56c5x_LvR5w55bp6FkFc3D1BiFcOsi2gS9bV9cxe2lvexscwJAjXAApQFEA49Q57wvXIGXTkBs68icsz81ltXCA/s200/ChickenTaco.JPG" width="200" /></a>Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos with Kale Slaw and Homemade Low Carb Tortillas</h2>
We started a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet">ketogenic diet</a> about 8 weeks ago. And though we love the weight loss results, we have been challenged to cook no carb dinner entrees that seemed well rounded and left us feeling like we had more than just meat.<br />
<br />
Then we put together these slow-cooker chicken Low carb tacos with a kale slaw. And they were dynamite!<br />
<br />
Even rivaled the full-on carb tacos at <a href="http://whereslloyd.com/taco-factory/">Lloyd Taco Factory</a> in Buffalo that we love so much in our carb gobbling days.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
So here's the 3 part recipe -</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
(don't be intimidated - slow cooker does the work for you and then it's just last minute prep.) </div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
slow cooker chicken</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
kale slaw</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
homemade no carb tortillas</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
</h4>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Slow Cooker Chicken (adapted from West African Chicken Stew in<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Keto-Clarity-Definitive-Benefits-Low-Carb/dp/1628600071"> Ketoclarity</a>)</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 tbsp coconut oil</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/2 medium onion diced</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3 cloves of garlic, minced</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 bay leaf</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 can crushed tomatoes</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 cup water or more as needed</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 cup of almond butter (no sugar added)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 tsp vanilla extract</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Minced parsley (sprinkle)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
optional butter - if desired for added fat</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and brown over medium high heat in the coconut oil. (This can be done on stove top or in your slow cooker on high heat.) Brown the chicken on both sides - about 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2. In same pot (your slow cooker), cook onion and ginger until soft - about 5-7 minutes. Then add garlic, cayenne, bay leaf and cinnamon and cook for about a minute to enhance the spice flavors. Add tomatoes and water- stirring. Place chicken into this sauce (which is in your slow cooker) and set your slow cooker on low-medium - which depending on your style of slow cooker is usually in the 4-6 hr range. Note: you may increase your water as this cooks to make sure you have plenty of sauce developing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Kale Slaw<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEScX5RVjGgqfxOCaqyNKjsQE_FA8WsKta58OOfy7nhYhUc0_N01Rh7WAMUn3uY_zME10LTh3ETUb6HeXFzRffsnw-v7aiInl8LoCZVmLLhli1Cfzysoju5aySipO5PW7S_p5ZSR4JHZ8/s1600/chickentaco2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEScX5RVjGgqfxOCaqyNKjsQE_FA8WsKta58OOfy7nhYhUc0_N01Rh7WAMUn3uY_zME10LTh3ETUb6HeXFzRffsnw-v7aiInl8LoCZVmLLhli1Cfzysoju5aySipO5PW7S_p5ZSR4JHZ8/s320/chickentaco2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Fresh kale</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Cider vinegar</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Drizzle of olive oil or coconut oil </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Salt and freshly ground pepper</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Squeeze of a 1/2 lemon</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sprinkle of red pepper flakes to desired heat</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1. Wash, devein kale and pat dry. (I make extra of this easy slaw - as it basically goes with everything.) Roughly chop or julienne the kale into ribbons.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2. Toss kale with the vinegar, oil, lemon juice. Season to taste with the salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
No Carb Tortilla Wrap</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp of almond milk or non dairy milk of choice</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 tsp lemon juice</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 cup Coconut flour</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/8 tsp baking soda</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 tsp sea salt</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 tbsp dried egg whites or protein powder </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
4-6 egg whites (depending on size of eggs and desired consistency of the batter</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
water as needed to achieve crepe like consistency</div>
<br />
Combine milk and lemon juice and set aside.<br />
Sift together dry ingredients. Add milk mixture and egg whites and whisk well. Allow to site for 5-10 minutes to thicken. Adjust thickness of batter with water.<br />
<br />
Preheat a crepe pan or 8 inch skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with non stick cooking spray or a smear of coconut oil. Then cook 1/4 cup of batter in crepe pan as you would a crepe - for about 1 minute until set - loosen edges gently with a spatula and flip over. Cook for 1 minute. Remove to a warm plate and repeat with remaining batter.<br />
(You can adjust the size of your crepe/wraps as you desire.) We made small ones in the photo.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Assembly:</h3>
<br />
Put your individual wraps together by spooning in your shredded slow cooker chicken, kale slaw into your no carb tortilla wrap and spooning on some of the juices from the chicken on top.<br />
<br />
Garnish with some freshly chopped cilantro or parsley and fresh lime wedges.<br />
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-46382135353882607552016-09-19T09:57:00.000-07:002016-10-06T09:22:53.402-07:00Low Carb Blueberry Pancake Topping<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Blueberry Lemon Walnut Topping for Low Carb Pancakes</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgES_t3Gd0fP54RTAaS-xVOev22wuiUJiCcS95GyEAL06TfV9np6AZL5cg68gcigdWndF8YgQqxI553PFKZUV8kTDt6zBLqyqY07ylkd6WQWXei8JSBgBxoVkPmSEcdXPS5VyBOzXmPuLM/s1600/blueberrytop+closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgES_t3Gd0fP54RTAaS-xVOev22wuiUJiCcS95GyEAL06TfV9np6AZL5cg68gcigdWndF8YgQqxI553PFKZUV8kTDt6zBLqyqY07ylkd6WQWXei8JSBgBxoVkPmSEcdXPS5VyBOzXmPuLM/s400/blueberrytop+closeup.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
So on our low carb/no carb ketogenic diet we love our butter but miss the syrup for our pancakes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Pancakes you said!!! On a low carb diet!? YES!<br />
Found this <a href="http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2012/04/light-and-fluffy-coconut-flour-pancakes-low-carb-and-gluten-free.html">great recipe for low carb pancakes</a> made with coconut flour that cooks up really well.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/">All Day I Dream about Food blog</a> is my new go to source for terrific low carb recipes.<br />
<br />
Then I came up with this fast and easy topping that will make you forget about the syrup you are missing!<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Blueberry Lemon Walnut Topping </h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Ingredients:</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
1/2 cup blueberries</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Fresh lemon (about 1/2 small lemon)</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
1/4 cup chopped walnuts</h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Sprinkle of liquid artificial sweetener of your choice (I use sucralose or generic Splenda or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Swerve-Sweetener-16-oz-Granular/dp/B004X71550/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1475770866&sr=8-1&keywords=Swerve&th=1">Swerve</a>) </h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Combine all ingredients in small bowl, mix gently to combine and let stand a few minutes while you assemble and butter your low carb pancakes.<br />Serves 2</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Enjoy! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Of course, this could be easily repurposed (love to repurpose) in a non low carb diet by simply substituting a scant sprinkle of sugar or agave syrup instead of the Splenda.</div>
</div>
buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-53049050050844605142016-08-12T06:11:00.001-07:002016-08-18T08:15:47.200-07:00Woodford Bourbon Distillery Tour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlgUv1MIiEGpP_zUq40Msn8HAiRtR1p4nuy-0FPkKT-Sz7UmQdtEfwVIdFaNmGu6PhhN9vLStwwh234OTqzYFDmMaBlRte3N0JB6nStqtLFwOU4eNFZNsFbQ3MzxsDbgb-3zQOiWN8cw/s1600/photo(172).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlgUv1MIiEGpP_zUq40Msn8HAiRtR1p4nuy-0FPkKT-Sz7UmQdtEfwVIdFaNmGu6PhhN9vLStwwh234OTqzYFDmMaBlRte3N0JB6nStqtLFwOU4eNFZNsFbQ3MzxsDbgb-3zQOiWN8cw/s320/photo(172).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
</h2>
If you are ever driving through Kentucky, take the time to visit the <a href="http://www.woodfordreserve.com/age?location=/distillery/tours/">Woodford Reserve distillery </a>for a walk back in time and some delicious smells and tastes.<br />
<br />
Their casks are stored in original stone buildings - a cool and pleasant walk during a hot summer tour!<br />
<br />
The tour concludes with a delicious sampling of their different aged bourbons paired with some wonderful chocolate! Definitely worth the price of admission. Plus you get a real bourbon education here.<br />
<br />
The entrance hall/gift shop area is a lovely structure with fireplaces, luxurious seating areas and many visual treats.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JcVzSlnGCbI2EWNlYfCLVCBHfxm6tKsM7MmAgHA39b3mhJfHnd9kfw7aXvRvNzrlaU1WIhaJYH27lQ5xQ8u3YgaBnHYHErvE2F0aJT5bPSyl7_wPdJ7qlo0ZcjzJIobvWxCFMadsK-g/s1600/IMG_3132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JcVzSlnGCbI2EWNlYfCLVCBHfxm6tKsM7MmAgHA39b3mhJfHnd9kfw7aXvRvNzrlaU1WIhaJYH27lQ5xQ8u3YgaBnHYHErvE2F0aJT5bPSyl7_wPdJ7qlo0ZcjzJIobvWxCFMadsK-g/s320/IMG_3132.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bourbon flight post tour with chocolates</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodford Reserve</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">casks stored in historic stone building</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-21441266132858999182015-05-01T05:45:00.003-07:002015-05-09T05:26:02.492-07:00Red Pepper in Buffalo NY - Chinese Vietnamese cuisine <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring rolls</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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A friend of mine recommended this Asian fusion restaurant -Red Pepper on Maple Rd in Buffalo.<br />
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We were in the mood for a quick but tasty lunch to celebrate the last day of class in the spring semester so we stopped in.<br />
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Front of this restaurant is a bit tired and shabby - but that describes most of Buffalo - so I let that go.<br />
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I don't often eat Chinese American food and I don't usually find satisfaction in the little inexpensive Chinese restaurants that are on every corner through out America - you know the places where you stop in for a quick fix of Sweet and Sour Chicken with a side of fried rice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fried wontons at Red Pepper</td></tr>
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But Chinese Vietnamese interested me -so I tried it - I liked the spring rolls. Fried wontons were a bit greasy - but they are fried!<br />
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We split the Vietnamese pancake with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts. We liked it - was a bit bland and we splashed it with soy sauce. <br />
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I will probably stop in again at Red Pepper - I want to try their pho!<br />
<span id="goog_782282133"></span><span id="goog_782282134"></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/blogger-reviews/42/8765/Buffalo/Living-Buffchic-Style.html"><img alt="Living Buffchic Style Buffalo restaurants" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/rank/42/8765.gif" style="border: none; height: 48px; width: 134px;" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/42/461725/restaurant/Buffalo/Red-Pepper-Chinese-Vietnamese-Amherst"><img 12px="" 1px="" alt="Red Pepper Chinese-
Vietnamese on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/461725/biglink.gif" div="" gt="" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /> </a></div>
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-32668007284151746092014-06-04T07:14:00.000-07:002016-08-18T07:37:45.981-07:00Window Boxes without Really Trying<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Window Boxes that aren't Window Boxes </h2>
I want flowers everywhere! And since this isn't always possible--<br />
I've found ways to have window box flowers without the expense and difficulty of making window boxes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impatiens and ivy in wooly pocket.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBUaTcirdQuoKfUoGhs-hXAxnHcThwtWduKe43Cah1FbpEcCpnj3A3ucVpJtl7IGLgLrEa8S1PIp8DKGX9xEzqLGoTPSiMDW9ZRVwt5v3Yxz91ejNiJpHq8X1xrEvKDxhEUrW9-3HzBY/s1600/flwers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBUaTcirdQuoKfUoGhs-hXAxnHcThwtWduKe43Cah1FbpEcCpnj3A3ucVpJtl7IGLgLrEa8S1PIp8DKGX9xEzqLGoTPSiMDW9ZRVwt5v3Yxz91ejNiJpHq8X1xrEvKDxhEUrW9-3HzBY/s1600/flwers.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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These wooly pockets make quick & easy window boxes.<br />
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They are easy to hang and plant which I like because I'm all about instant gratification in the yard.<br />
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The pockets come in various colors & sizes - I like a contrasting color to show off the foliage and flowers.<br />
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I plant this one year round. And the picture above shows some mushrooms popping up in the impatiens.<br />
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-5384293009411021812013-08-29T05:38:00.002-07:002013-08-30T12:35:15.668-07:00Doctor Shopping<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was recently shopping in a local jewelry store doing a quick preview of the merchandise to help select an appropriate birthday gift for my husband to give me. (I do this because I am just give, give, give and I always put his concerns first and I would hate for him to make a bad birthday gift choice - like the time he gave me a book on the architecture of Buffalo. That will NOT be happening again!) </h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie of me and Dave when we got engaged.</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The saleslady and owner both knew me well. This is where we had my engagement ring custom designed and again the place where many birthday, anniversary and, of course, Bastille Day gifts come from.</h3>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #20124d;"> </span>
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<span style="color: #20124d;">Then it happened--</span></h3>
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<span style="color: red;"><b><i>a doctor in scrubs walked through the door</i></b></span> and the owner of the store flew to him like a moth to a flame. </h3>
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The saleswoman who had been showing me diamond studs was so taken by the blinding light of this doc's scrubs that she could barely look at me or complete a sentence in response to a question. Then I had to wait to see the earrings I was interested until after my doctor friend finished with them.</h3>
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Hmmmm. So I went over to a fine art gallery in town where I was really enjoying looking at some paintings. The lively gallery assistant was showing me lots of beautiful abstracts and describing the techniques the artists used. They were pulling pieces out of the back to show me and even offered to come to my home to do a trial installation of any art piece I desired.</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A favorite Marc Chagall knock off.</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #20124d;">when it happened -- AGAIN!</span></h3>
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<span style="color: red;"><b><i>a doctor in scrubs walked through the door</i>.</b> </span> And I got handed off to another person who had been shuffling through items in the back of the gallery.</h3>
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What's up with this!? </h3>
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<span style="color: red;">Moral of the story:</span> Next time I decide to go shopping, I will wear green scrubs and tuck a pager onto my waistband for better service.</h3>
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-77508649487241080972013-08-26T08:08:00.004-07:002013-08-26T08:09:58.068-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken Vindaloo at Sitar Indian Cuisine</td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: purple;">Sitar Indian Cuisine in Birmingham, AL</span></h2>
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I didn't expect much when we stopped at <a href="http://www.sitaruab.com/">Sitar Indian Cuisine in Birmingham</a>. But I figured almost any Indian food is better than no Indian food, thought we would give it a shot.</div>
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</h3>
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<span style="color: purple;">Extra napkins, please!</span></h3>
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But, WOW, was I surprised -- the food here was excellent. We ordered Chicken Vindaloo that just about knocked our socks off. It was spicy and fabulous. The garlic naan was to die for. Get extra napkins! You will need them to mop up the delicious buttery naan and to dry the tears from your eyes if you order it "Indian hot" like I did.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Pricing </h3>
Prices were student friendly - that is to say - CHEAP! Would love to pass back through Birmingham and eat here again.</div>
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<a href="http://www.sitaruab.com/">Sitar Indian Cuisine in Birmingham</a> is located next to UAB's medical school campus. Wish I could transfer to their <a href="http://www.pawannabe.com/">PA school!</a> I would eat here every day.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/45/1516399/restaurant/Southside/Sitar-Indian-Restaurant-Birmingham"><img alt="Sitar Indian Restaurant on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1516399/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>
buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-36078905236049043082013-05-01T14:09:00.002-07:002013-05-01T18:14:48.772-07:00Crave on Hertel Ave: re-styled but searching for an identity.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Iz6MMuVAdzkzm-4EalAMuIqGHkEM53yz31vX8e4qg7m9AUA1nM3D2fsDETGmGwHCzS_TTn8VhMmOqzQGAjDE8pWybdIiLI1chVDcokpD7wS2Gr4AAlO4npDKWT6BsDngLhD52R81WIs/s1600/photo(92).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Iz6MMuVAdzkzm-4EalAMuIqGHkEM53yz31vX8e4qg7m9AUA1nM3D2fsDETGmGwHCzS_TTn8VhMmOqzQGAjDE8pWybdIiLI1chVDcokpD7wS2Gr4AAlO4npDKWT6BsDngLhD52R81WIs/s640/photo(92).JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New decor at Crav(ing) on Hertel Ave. in Buffalo, NY<span style="color: #e69138;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6T2NvBaJs_VswVyyAC5127mAGlsAQKONHhtPrpAgnTo-5ZiGKC1Qi-LRsHudZaRvomJynLugUG_Jaa-wq-YNEWx1W8aaAk_rzVeywKZ0HGg2VYJuypxLYEOAX7FsWoQ-ptqB2QwNvFvs/s1600/photo(92).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Crave</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #e69138;">: Eclectic or Pub Gru</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #e69138;">b</span>?</span></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://news.discovery.com/human/genetics/smoking-cigarettes-genetic-damage-110115.htm">Crave, or Crav(ing)</a> as the logo on the window says, is a new <span style="font-size: small;">kid on the block</span> <span style="font-size: small;">on</span> the <span style="font-size: small;">new hip<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Hertel Ave in B<span style="font-size: small;">uffalo. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's </span>hop<span style="font-size: small;">ing this will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood after La Dolce Vita. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Though I was expecting a little healthier more <span style="font-size: small;">new age</span>, <span style="font-size: small;">fresh</span> menu<span style="font-size: small;">, I am very willing to gi<span style="font-size: small;">ve them a try. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I <span style="font-size: small;">liked their decor<span style="font-size: small;"> and color scheme. Chocolate browns<span style="font-size: small;">, rich orange and "go <span style="font-size: small;">BI<span style="font-size: small;">G</span></span> or go home" art work make <span style="font-size: small;">for</span> a splashy contemporary feel<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>(ex<span style="font-size: small;">cept for the <span style="font-size: small;">cluster</span> of smalls I photographed above). The <span style="font-size: small;">small dining room feels warm and inviting<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>with a comfortable but stylish chocolate faux (?) leather ban<span style="font-size: small;">quette, though the back of the narrow dining room <span style="font-size: small;">may </span>need more light in the evenings, especially as summer turns to fall and winter in cloudy Buffalo.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crave is still<span style="font-size: small;"> waiting on their liquor license<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">, but I like the look of their bar with two over sized oil paintings flanking the mirror so </span>I <span style="font-size: small;">am hoping they secure it soon.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Take</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>away message: </b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">I like the decor<span style="font-size: small;"> and if they can match it with a fun ambi<span style="font-size: small;">a</span>nce<span style="font-size: small;">,</span> a mean Martini<span style="font-size: small;"> and a good wine list, </span></span><b>I will be back.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b> </b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-LzhxZzbcmj_WZubccznLW9IymqIwtzRFyLmS4k0M1joHYU1Bkng6JqcsNwgomQt2ts9xa_LI184iQKdJuzVTPBU7U9iyvIt9YE5SfAr2RNAW-jQTrgigjnBa0M8tV07DRnaenUX1rY/s1600/photo(93).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-LzhxZzbcmj_WZubccznLW9IymqIwtzRFyLmS4k0M1joHYU1Bkng6JqcsNwgomQt2ts9xa_LI184iQKdJuzVTPBU7U9iyvIt9YE5SfAr2RNAW-jQTrgigjnBa0M8tV07DRnaenUX1rY/s400/photo(93).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chopped salad</td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Chopped salad and Greek wrap </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had the chopped salad, which though tasty and large, was really a<span style="font-size: small;">n unimaginative mix of <span style="font-size: small;">half-way chopped romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, ch<span style="font-size: small;">ick peas, </span>some red <span style="font-size: small;">onion, blue cheese crumbles and a few <span style="font-size: small;">k</span>alamata olives. Something tells me that they could really claim <span style="font-size: small;">ownership of their menu by making their salads more distinctive <span style="font-size: small;">and </span>including some locally grown fresh produce. <span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Take</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>away message:</b></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kostas<span style="font-size: small;"> Greek restaurant is practically across the street<span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Don't <span style="font-size: small;">offer</span> a boring chopped salad or half hearted Greek salad when the neighborhood knows where to get a <span style="font-size: small;">nice</span> basic Greek salad already! </b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Plus I could dash to Dash and pick up an equivalent basic salad to go<span style="font-size: small;">.)</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We also had the Jenny Greek Wrap today. This was a whole wheat wrap around a <span style="font-size: small;">weak Greek salad (see comments above) and some grilled chicken. Again, adequate <span style="font-size: small;">and palatable but mostly lettuce and nothing exciting.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Take</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>away message: <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">See above!</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Make a decision<span style="font-size: small;">: </span>crave it or lose it!</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcM4jNzIcddd1uk4v-cSK5e3JgP2-AlvupCkQPnm0Tf-5K0SPsk5XsCxf5Pd5fiqYlUHXeWo0o5eEtZhSwG2JpfZGtUHgqada6q9iLkkW3OuFmEW1L7wi7WyFKyfA0N-JVjfVgVQp3tC8/s1600/photo(95).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcM4jNzIcddd1uk4v-cSK5e3JgP2-AlvupCkQPnm0Tf-5K0SPsk5XsCxf5Pd5fiqYlUHXeWo0o5eEtZhSwG2JpfZGtUHgqada6q9iLkkW3OuFmEW1L7wi7WyFKyfA0N-JVjfVgVQp3tC8/s320/photo(95).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It seems that they are trying to sati<span style="font-size: small;">s</span>fy a trad</span>itional Buffalo des<span style="font-size: small;">ire for a heavy, hearty sandwich, with offer<span style="font-size: small;">ings </span>such as their <span style="font-size: small;">F</span>rie<span style="font-size: small;">d <span style="font-size: small;">Chicken Sandwich while st<span style="font-size: small;">ill offering a quasi-eclectic <span style="font-size: small;">selection</span> of salads<span style="font-size: small;"> and Asian or Korean interpret<span style="font-size: small;">ations on a <span style="font-size: small;">standard</span> sandwich<span style="font-size: small;">. Frankly, not sure how this will work out. I think they need to throw the<span style="font-size: small;">ir hat over the wall in one direction or the other.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Take</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>away message:</b></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b>Crave it or lose it!</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/42/1742063/restaurant/North-Buffalo/Crave-Buffalo"><img alt="Crave on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1742063/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-67133024767467466772013-04-29T20:52:00.000-07:002013-04-30T07:32:15.700-07:0020s Glamour in Buffalo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parkside Candy 1927 interior</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parkside Candy on Main St. in Buffalo, NY</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meatball Sandwich lunch at Parkside</td></tr>
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I drive up and down Buffalo's Main St. twice a day. <a href="http://www.parksidecandy.com/">Parkside Candy</a> catches my eye as a place that time has passed by.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Faded facade hides historic beauty: </span></h2>
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The outside is rundown and in sad need of maintenance. The wooden sign is weather worn, decayed and hanging by a nail. The awning is tattered beyond existence. And the brick and concrete of the entrance is crumbling. The store displays are 4th of July, Christmas and graduation all at once in late April. I thought Parkside Candy was out of business decades ago as their facade suggests.<br />
(Plus the apparent abortion clinic on the second floor does not fit with the falsely 1950s cheery attempts of Parkside Candy's window displays.)<br />
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But my Buffalonian friends told me that Parkside Candy is a historic Buffalo landmark that is well worth a visit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZbnBnV5bLykBx-TbOciLvEXBLF1drYU2Z-iQRuaLqAcCwlQB1e8MTigap-6PcIcnf13A6aAMPNnT79nB8QsY5V4a3prGuBi_mojR59DHCYDSkydEPJYhAr1mvDUSkv5pP_eKh1yuxD0/s1600/IMG_3727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZbnBnV5bLykBx-TbOciLvEXBLF1drYU2Z-iQRuaLqAcCwlQB1e8MTigap-6PcIcnf13A6aAMPNnT79nB8QsY5V4a3prGuBi_mojR59DHCYDSkydEPJYhAr1mvDUSkv5pP_eKh1yuxD0/s640/IMG_3727.jpg" width="480" /></a>So finally I stopped in for lunch today. And my friendly Buffalistas were right!<br />
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The inside is a tribute to 1927 with original floors, booths and woodwork. There were few customers but the lunch was fun if a little white bread traditional. The ice cream sundae was old fashioned and deluxe. <br />
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It really is the decor and beaux arts design here that is the story. The oval room with the frieze work ceiling in plaster and the original mirrored oval wooden doors are outstanding. You can easily imagine yourself as a patron from a past decade at Parkside Candy.<br />
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I cannot understand why the building is not maintained. I understand preserving the beauty of its past and not marring the historic design. But crumbling superstructure, a tattered awning and the weathered sign all give me the signal that the owners are not concerned with preserving the appearance or reputation of this long standing Buffalo tradition.<br />
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There is much here that is worth preserving and restoring. The broken neon sign that fronts Main St. alone is worthy of a Buffalonion restoration.<br />
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-50509173305332523612013-04-27T10:57:00.000-07:002013-08-26T07:32:55.354-07:00Juici Patties in Jamaica<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MoBay: Streetside market in Montego Bay, Jamaica.</td></tr>
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This colorful scene in Montego Bay, Jamaica with these beautiful fruits was just outside a <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147311-d1232823-r137772463-Juici_Patties-Montego_Bay_Jamaica.html#REVIEWS">Juici Patties restaurant</a> that we visited.<br />
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We met a couple on the pier and shared a taxi with them. The wife had gone to medical school in Grand Cayman, and she was a huge fan of Juici Patties.<br />
She raved about wanting a "<a href="http://www.juicipatties.com/">juici pattie</a>."<br />
She said it was the must have food of Jamaica. So we went with them to the Juice Pattie emporium to taste this wondrous dish.<br />
We figured out later that the couple was pretty drunk and seemed to be there to get even drunker and though they loved the greasy, carb laden <a href="http://www.juicipatties.com/">juici patties</a>-- we did not.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Juici Patti itself!</td></tr>
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Juici patti is a greasy meat pie in a doughy envelope. The meat is not especially spicy, tasty or juicy. It's like a fast food, McDonaldized version of what you think a meat pie should be laden with empty calories and no discernible nutritional value. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave & our friends waiting to get a Red Stripe</td></tr>
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This comes under the heading of sometimes you meet great folks randomly while traveling. Sometimes you taste awesome local specialties while on vacation ... AND sometimes you don't! This day was a DON'T.<br />
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Our friends who we met at the pier in Jamaica were from Arkansas and taught us that they were Indians "dot not feather." Though they were soused- they were fun enough until they started bickering.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the fam in Jamaica.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="St. Petersburg, Russia" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUCZaln-lEpSJv0aXhai5hKwA2KLbmLzNHNt8tS5WugQ0H45mmLBcfJ1DwBDP8M-vJC51mR7wJLbJxRpNQwS5x50xyLRl2srYrYxf3JeLZVp2n9_qG3MmUkYWcp2mYhWDBda4iYDZt9U/s400/IMG_0443.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; visibility: visible;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Vika in St. Petersburg, Russia</td></tr>
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But that's ok- it was a fun experience I won't soon forget just like my new friend in St. Petersburg (see photo below) who we shared a fun impromptu dinner with while she taught us about the Russian people and what it's like to live in Russia.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montego Bay, Jamaica</td></tr>
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-20269142137757222072013-04-26T05:34:00.000-07:002013-04-26T05:34:39.588-07:00Cats in Parkas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-F_k2h9gGRVjDGnmIGaWziwZaDbgYKgpqPyUzUya__aqKrrmXdDJZYeqnT8kZOigxNJE6dvWtpMLazZ93wbd1uizwab30p2IZBxWAMvIieWvl_pX6ITKsyBvzORSnSZgmAUGSl0KWRE/s640/IMG_0247.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="476" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Boy in his pink parka</td></tr>
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My cats wear parkas in Buffalo when it's cold. They often have words over who gets to wear the more manly brown parka.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joker gets to wear the brown parka - but looks irritated.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Boy with one of his humans</td></tr>
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-58215373165278356762013-04-25T09:13:00.001-07:002013-04-26T11:20:32.087-07:00Cats recreate Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLZTElLFavBF1w4yrU-YcFcw8e6IzYNGkc4TPDARkJwrSEmI92ujJHljssC-hfMMEZcxLZDfV_vaEJXajbqWYVim0yYHXp5snpZtNfwu6Zzuf-uh0M_K0bpzGaDEIPpxub3227qNZ1r0/s1600/IMG_1757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLZTElLFavBF1w4yrU-YcFcw8e6IzYNGkc4TPDARkJwrSEmI92ujJHljssC-hfMMEZcxLZDfV_vaEJXajbqWYVim0yYHXp5snpZtNfwu6Zzuf-uh0M_K0bpzGaDEIPpxub3227qNZ1r0/s640/IMG_1757.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cats reenact the Sistine Chapel pose</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIxwImcu2NdDJE891YwtEHL125j1xQ3-YjAM7D5dRSUjDsiCLhvUN7N0ygHDy7n5jSTWiFNN1Kl5vTqKwiNB84S-435kfHC8N89C5CBD1BrQXg2B_F6dmH4qCofJuFz87yYLmHLxe4Rs/s1600/sistine-chapel-ceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIxwImcu2NdDJE891YwtEHL125j1xQ3-YjAM7D5dRSUjDsiCLhvUN7N0ygHDy7n5jSTWiFNN1Kl5vTqKwiNB84S-435kfHC8N89C5CBD1BrQXg2B_F6dmH4qCofJuFz87yYLmHLxe4Rs/s320/sistine-chapel-ceiling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real deal - God and man.</td></tr>
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My cats live a full life.<br />
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Here they have chosen to recreate the<br />
work of Michaelangelo as they reenact<br />
the famous tableau from the Sistine<br />
Chapel of God touching man.<br />
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Little Boy is God and man is played by his little brother Joker.<br />
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Yes, I do have better things to be doing than likening my cats to great<br />
Renaissance painters. HINT: See the<br />
Atlas of Anatomy lurking in the background. Yes, I should be studying that instead.<br />
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I did find this interesting <a href="http://www.thecaveonline.com/APEH/michelangelosbrain.html">article about one man's theory that Michaelangelo really is portraying God has a human brain</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2qwW_pYGkeQ2lh5fzCzBMOIFZF5h_WovKzYjkMlIUUAKKNJ-PqQe9jD-9drdJpnIG2JfZZYVwr2XIBnKWkBnRKYBRs9GGidBEE_7TdC9AlTT7F-XtzAN96giHiN3ZHEUz9o0GlDo0MI/s1600/Michel.sistine.psych.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2qwW_pYGkeQ2lh5fzCzBMOIFZF5h_WovKzYjkMlIUUAKKNJ-PqQe9jD-9drdJpnIG2JfZZYVwr2XIBnKWkBnRKYBRs9GGidBEE_7TdC9AlTT7F-XtzAN96giHiN3ZHEUz9o0GlDo0MI/s400/Michel.sistine.psych.gif" width="400" /></a> <br />
Medical students take note, here is a chance to combine your humanities with your science training. <br />
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As an English major with a Master of Arts who went into the sciences and is now a <a href="http://www.pawannabe.com/">physician assistant student</a>, I live for these moments where art and medicine collide.<br />
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Ah well, back to work on anatomy. Here are the boys in their usual roles--themselves! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODf9MlVekDn8WtvZDMuepV2ZNzbDpsHBdbbXcd0AQk4NKWsA_3MqcCxv3upuSW-0mm5R1tD_z1j4s67pbKQlD6SuC3A5dzWW51OAc1dwXHIgHCcRAL28LFC_WkcGDj1KPxDJUBSUmlWA/s1600/IMG_1760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODf9MlVekDn8WtvZDMuepV2ZNzbDpsHBdbbXcd0AQk4NKWsA_3MqcCxv3upuSW-0mm5R1tD_z1j4s67pbKQlD6SuC3A5dzWW51OAc1dwXHIgHCcRAL28LFC_WkcGDj1KPxDJUBSUmlWA/s400/IMG_1760.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys as themselves in the Buffalo sunshine.</td></tr>
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-67219739501571853562013-04-17T07:25:00.004-07:002013-04-17T07:25:32.365-07:00My cats eat Kleenex while I hide in bathroom mirror<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Cornish Rex Cats</h2>
Now I know that not everyone loves Cornish Rex cats or even just cats - how CRAZY is that!?<br />
These guys are an acquired taste. I admit it. They have little fur and what they have is wavy and fine like down. <br />
They have minds of their own and just want to do what they want to do when they want to do it! Oh, they sound like bad toddlers! Oh my!<br />
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Kleenex eating</h3>
But here they are eating Kleenex from the box, a favorite pastime of theirs that they mostly perform when they want a snack. They have several signals to tell me that they WANT FOOD and they want it NOW and this is one of their favorites!!!!!<br />
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Not naked</h3>
By the way, I am NOT naked in the bathroom mirror hiding behind my iPhone.</div>
buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4121778420874676166.post-40337367063057290742013-01-03T06:58:00.001-08:002013-04-17T06:36:30.904-07:00Prom of the Dead 2012 - The Whole Hog--How to Eat Good Pig<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flame dancer at Prom of the Dead</td></tr>
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This isn't just another chapter in my "PIG GOOD" trilogy, this is the real deal.</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w6XNc-c51X5TeqghlLbnTdG6tr1WYyHTyybcQnBdVVkCHi2LmgG7HNjTFGKg8CghqQnqaZCHiuhrlTrpKs4ZucTAvbiaOwQ0xqkr_8doghLhkfa32muyQk82wab9gO6uoNYvCv52aYM/s1600/photo(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w6XNc-c51X5TeqghlLbnTdG6tr1WYyHTyybcQnBdVVkCHi2LmgG7HNjTFGKg8CghqQnqaZCHiuhrlTrpKs4ZucTAvbiaOwQ0xqkr_8doghLhkfa32muyQk82wab9gO6uoNYvCv52aYM/s320/photo(16).JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%5Chttp://www.thewholehogtruck.com/"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%5Chttp://www.thewholehogtruck.com/">The Whole Hog</a> = Pig Good<br />
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I love me some <a href="http://www.buffalorising.com/2012/10/prom-of-the-dead-my-coney-island-baby.html">Prom of the Dead</a> and the theme this year was Coney Island.<br />
This year was no disappointment - especially when we discovered that there was delicious PIG (aka pork) waiting for us as we exited the Prom!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTq_ubCSVfNFKRJbq5zJUMztUvcqM_vnEeXq9fMEPS5IWxI-7Az9Tv0UE94FaTuVnWJmJ4JafoamgtYotv4jgS9DfcyT78sYiyVCZIAx4FfkADK7le-7W0_Z_pJ9O69d7CkuLiNLltnU/s1600/550301_424476394267887_985715506_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTq_ubCSVfNFKRJbq5zJUMztUvcqM_vnEeXq9fMEPS5IWxI-7Az9Tv0UE94FaTuVnWJmJ4JafoamgtYotv4jgS9DfcyT78sYiyVCZIAx4FfkADK7le-7W0_Z_pJ9O69d7CkuLiNLltnU/s320/550301_424476394267887_985715506_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went as the Big Cat who tears up her Lion Tamer</td></tr>
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After a night at <a href="http://www.tornspacetheater.com/promofthedead/">The Prom of the Dead</a> on Genosee St. in downtown Buffalo, the Whole Hog food truck parked outside is just what you want to see.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Nvc34ZVLmYWrE2FD8GIEI2DaBdJO0SM3GHWpTIRoIa4I4LoZ9yOQqzwJyHW2wUAgY6M7FRb88OjAvP-_3WQNaUuwivoeUs0od3vAgPKjb4Fa6wBulSZk0H622EU-kyRo3AoIPjxzAuY/s1600/527277_424476184267908_1558928121_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Nvc34ZVLmYWrE2FD8GIEI2DaBdJO0SM3GHWpTIRoIa4I4LoZ9yOQqzwJyHW2wUAgY6M7FRb88OjAvP-_3WQNaUuwivoeUs0od3vAgPKjb4Fa6wBulSZk0H622EU-kyRo3AoIPjxzAuY/s640/527277_424476184267908_1558928121_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This couple with baby in utero was my favorite at the Prom.</td></tr>
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We enjoyed a spicy pork stew with onions and peppers. It was steamy hot and spicy deliciousness. <br />
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We enjoy pork (aka PIG) in all its incarnations--bacon, roast pork, pulled pork, BBQ pork and on and on.<br />
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Love to roast a pig at holidays.<br />
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The Whole Hog knows how to handle pig! And anytime we see their truck, we are sure to imbibe in some of their juicy well cooked pork dishes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prom of the Dead 2012</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/42/1596255/restaurant/Central/The-Whole-Hog-Mobile-Buffalo" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Whole Hog (Mobile) on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1596255/biglink.gif" style="border: medium none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a></div>
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buffchichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07679117907384857399noreply@blogger.com0