final impressions blog - March 2007

I usually reserve these blog posts for business related activities, or artwork items. However I’m going to depart slightly and mention how we have saved some valuable time in food selection and preparation for our busy lifestyle.

We had gotten quite tired of the same old meals, and around 5 PM it came down to “So what to you want for dinner tonight?” which usually turned into the same old thing. About 4 months ago my wife found a wonderful solution from a link and reference on FlyLady.Net. It involves preparing frozen dinners in advance.

So last weekend, we selected dinners for the next 3 weeks, we both did the grocery shopping on Saturday, and then on Sunday we both spent about 2 hours preparing 21 meals, which are now neatly tucked into the freezer. After dinner each evening, we select our next dinner and move it to the refrigerator. Then in the afternoon, it is removed for final thaw, cooked and a vegetable added. Dinner now takes about ½ hour to prepare and each one is a taste delight, and healthy. A friend of mine has been doing this now for 2 months for a family of four, and even the kids are enjoying the new menu selections. I should also mention that we enjoy being together to select, shop and prepare the meals.

If your situation is like ours, you might want to browse the “freezer meals” at SavingDinner.com. We bought mega menus 1, 2 and 3. Happy dinner to you all - Doug and Barb

March 18, 2007 - Art Deco Architecture

A classic Art Deco building in Rochester NY is the Reynolds Arcade located at 16 East Main Street. It was built in 1932 to replace an original 5-story arcade dating to 1829. The buildings were primarily used for law, financial and real estate businesses. However, the original Reynolds Arcade building housed the first city public library called the Reynolds Library, a collection donated by Mortimer Reynolds in 1886. This original book collect was from the Rochester Athenaeum, one of the forerunners of Rochester Institute of Technology.

March 11, 2007 - Hojack Swing Bridge

While researching the Hojak Swing Bridge in Rochester NY, I was dismayed to find out it is up for demolition and removal. This unique bridge, built in 1905 by the former King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company for the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, is just as unique a Rochester feature as the Times Square Building and Mercury that sits atop the Aqueduct building.

There is a grass roots effort to save this unique structure (thebridgeproject.com) and I’m throwing my hat into the ring to save it.

A few years ago a client specifically bought an image of the Hojak swing bridge because they frequently traveled to Rochester just to see the bridge. Rochester needs tourism; why not preserve our unique past for everyone to enjoy?

My version of the famous Hojak Railroad Swing Bridge, rendered April 2006.

March 9, 2007 - Looking to Spring.

There will be changes in the website over the next few months as I re-evaluate to the site with an emphasis on our expanding business. I’ve also been taking a great class “Promote Your Art with Confidence” from Alyson B. Stanfield at ArtBizCoach.com. With her training, some new software tools and better processes, we will be able to serve our customers’ needs.

Additionally we have been preparing for the next season with an eye towards the Rochester Home Builders' Association Homarama 2007 home show from July 7-22 with Lana Torre. Last year we worked in conjunction with Heron Hill Winery to develop a set of still life prints for both them and the @home built model at the Canandaigua Homearama show.