The first Coffee Talk of the season at The Art Cellar in Banner Elk, NC is history…and only the memory of the great Fried Balogna sandwiches of MC Mason linger…well not only that…lots of paintings and other goodies, too!
We had a great crowd and I want to thank the McKays and all our friends for the great turn out (see photo below).  
The show is up until June 11, so stop by and say "howdy" to Liz, Sarah, Rob, Pam and Mike.
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Isn't this exciting!?!  Master Chef Mason of The Art Cellar Gallery, home of Bob' s BIG Art Show…which starts today…has made a YouTube video for us on "How to Make a Fried Balogna Sandwich!  I have had so many of you ask how he does it…One remembers fried balogna sandwiches from their childhood, but the FDA or some other group said "don't feed that to kids!" and our Moms stopped making them.  But this one is gourmet and "gourmet" gets away with everything, even using butter!  At the end of this post, I will give you the link, sorry, didn't mean to do another pork joke! 

Now I forgot to tell you, "Sweetie" the Berkshire pork beauty escaped last weekend from the Memphis in May International Bar-B-Que Festival.  That is why she is a little pink.  She will be there Saturday morning for the VERY first "Coffee Talk" of the season, starting at 10 o'clock.  

Hope to see you Saturday morning, Mason, Sweetie, some Local Color, and the gang from The Art Cellar…now, what you have been waiting for "Fried Balogna Sandwich!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbLnYmq_ghE

Enjoy! 

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This is Sweetie…she will be featured this weekend at The Art Cellar Gallery in Banner Elk, NC.  I mean, c'mon, who doesn't want to meat…sorry, meet a cutie like this?
The festivities bacon…sorry…begin at 10am and if we are still hamming…uh, having fun, we will go until noon!  Again, by special request, Master Chef Mason (pronounced MAY-zone) McKay will feature his specialty, pan-fried balogna (baloney, if you are from the South) grilled sandwiches…and we all know what the main ingredient in balogna is right, sweetie…I mean, right?  You got it, best sandwich your snout, ur, nose ever smelled cooking in the kitchen!  As a friend of mine in New Bern used to say, "Um Um Um…thank you Jesus!"  I wouldn't rib ya'…tease you…the art is OK, the sandwich is "Best of Show!"  Bet yer Butt…Boston forgive me…but that is the SWEET meat!  
Chef Mason and I look forward to seeing you, Saturday morning…Sweetie, too!
Stay tuned for a video on "how to" make the now world famous MC Mason grilled, pan-fried baloney sandwich (we recommend French's mustard)…coming in my next post this week…it's five minutes long, but what else have you got to do…just loin…sorry, lying around...

Well, I have been on the Mountain now for two weeks…I've seen fire and I've seen rain…some hail too!
This week alone…I saw a hefty black bear stroll across our deck during morning coffee…this morning, a plump raccoon strolled along the same path…stopped and stared at me through the sliding doors…then exited stage left…must have been on his way to a "sound check" at Merlefest (if you don't know, Google it). It has been an exciting week!
I finished the painting below, Upper Creek Falls, and got two thumbs up:  one from Bobbie…and one from the owner of The Art Cellar in Banner Elk!  Two tough critics!
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 This year, I am the lead off batter with a show starting the third week of May at The Art Cellar.  And, at the same time, I am in the Tennessee Watercolor Society 35th Exhibition in Knoxville, TN...the juror…John Salminen, world renown watercolor artist!  My My My!  
So, this spring is off to a great start…Bobbie comes after Mother's Day…looking forward to more award-winning critiques!