Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Lake lovers ideas

There's nothing better than to walk into a lake house and see a beautiful lake map hanging from the wall. Here's the proof. Believe it or not, I have a lot of customers that send me photos of their maps hanging in their lake or beach house. I think the best come from Leo Lakes Treasured Maps! I have added a few to my blog. Thanks for paddling over!



Hey, paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com for a beautiful lake, river, or bay map by me. We have lake maps from California to Texas to Georgia. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 
As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.


Friday, July 19, 2019

Whale Photos

I traveled to Alaska in June and spent seven days cruising the inside passage. I got to see and photo some beautiful whales. It was amazing and they were pretty common along the inside passage. I mostly saw humpback and beluga whales. Many of the whales were traveling with their baby. Both the mom and baby stayed close together. Once you saw their tail come way out of the water, you learned that they were diving deep and it could take 15 minutes or more before they resurfaced. I watched for the blows, which was in spray spout to indicate that they had surfaced. Sometimes, if the lighting was right, there would be a rainbow around the spray. I will say that this was an Ahh.....moment. If you have never been to Alaska, I highly recommend it. Alaska is an absolutely beautiful place and I had a great time. Check-out these whale photos.








Hey, paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com for a beautiful lake, river, or bay map by me. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 
As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.





Monday, July 8, 2019

Alaska is warming?. My glacier photos.

I traveled to Alaska in June for an 11 day adventure. Three days were spent in Denali National Park, seven days cruising the inside passage, and one day in Vancouver. I didn't know it, but Alaska can get warm. One day in Fairbanks, it was nearly eighty degrees. No coat needed. Alaska is an absolutely beautiful place and I had a great time, mostly. One little problem, I got the flu about six or seven days into the trip. The flu made it more difficult, but I was lucky that it wasn't the worst flu that I've ever had.  Anyway, I didn't get to do everything that I planned, but did 85% of what I wanted to do. 


I took over 3,000 photos, yes 3,000. That a lot and I'm still going through them picking out the best of the best. Here's just a sample of the scenery.   

I got to see five nice glaciers while I was there. You can actually hear the popping and crushing of ice. There's a cold wind that blows from the glacier. Kind of cool....

I didn't see any fish or whales near the glacier. The glacier bank can be many stories tall and big portions can fall off, making a huge splash. Ships don't get too close to the wall.

An ice river! It is a pretty amazing "moment" to gaze into the glacier. They say the ice at this point is 400 years old. I guess you could say that this is the result of many snowstorms 400 years ago!

I learned that the blue ice is from the shear weight of all the ice, which squeezes the air out of the ice and the result is blue ice. Interestingly, some glaciers are advancing and growing larger while others are contracting. 

As you can see, it is an amazing place. I will go back to Alaska some day, but for now, I have pictures of whales, moose, caribou, towns, people, etc.. As I finish going through my pictures, I will post more.

Sorry for changing the subject, but I want to tell you what I do, I do treasured maps for lake houses, river lodges, and beach homes. I've been doing them for almost ten years. 

Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

And there's more....... I often get comments about the tiny mermaid hidden in the waters of all my maps. Folks love to tell me about the search for the mermaid. They say the children really enjoy hunting for her and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that she moves, but I'm not sure that I believe that. LeoLakes.com

Most folks add a star to a special place such as a lake house, river  house or where they caught that big fish. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately seven years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. Paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com
Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 



I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com








Tuesday, May 21, 2019

My Fishing Journal

I went kayak fishing last weekend on Marrowbone Lake. Rather than report the trip as a blog, I just copied my fishing journal pages. This is my first fishing journal entry, so it is the beginning and I'm learning how best to report trips in a journal. Why a fishing journal? Two reasons, first it dates and provides information on the trip so that I can look back and see what worked etc...second, I can give it to my kids as a date and time history.  Take a look and let me know what you think.  


Hey, do you like to paddle? Paddle over to my website and check out my lake, river and bay maps I do beautiful decor maps. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. Also, you can personalize your lake map with a star where your lake house is located.  I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. Order soon to avoid the rush!

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.


Friday, May 10, 2019

American Pelicans Photo at Kentucky Lake

American Pelicans at Kentucky Lake!  A customer sent me a photo of White Pelicans on Kentucky Lake. I was surprised to find that they have been wintering on the lake for the last 12-14 years. This island is a busy place. LeoLakes.com




It looks like a lot of Cormorants have joined the pelicans. This is a cool place, if you like to watch birds.

Next winter, I may make a trip to Kentucky Lake and take a few photos of the pelicans. Oh yeah, check-out my website LeoLakes.com for beautiful Lake, River and Bay maps.


Kayak over to my website, LeoLakes.com. I paint beautiful lake, river and bay decor maps. 

Ain't she pretty! She's all dressed up in a beautiful frame and ready to go to that "lake house warming party". you will be so proud when you walk in with the prettiest gift at the party..........LeoLakes.com

Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. Also, you can personalize your lake map with a star where your lake house is located.  I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. Order soon to avoid the rush!
As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Orders pick-up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.




"Hanging a Leo Lakes Treasured Map in a lake house, is like christening a boat with a bottle of champagne!" 




Tuesday, April 30, 2019

My first travel log....

Recently, I went to the Florida panhandle for a few days. On this trip, I did a travel log.   

Now when I go on a new travel adventure, I keep a journal of the places that I go, such as restaurants, hotels, etc... I use my artistic talent to add color and even add coordinates. My thinking is to give this book to my two daughters. Hopefully, some day they may retrace my footsteps. An adventure in itself. I'm still perfecting the content and look, but so far so good. Take a look!

    






I know what you are thinking, I have too much time on my hands, well better to have too much than none. Anyway, take a look.......


Paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com. I paint beautiful lake, river and bay decor maps. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. Also, you can personalize your lake map with a star where your lake house is located.  I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great Christmas gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. Order soon to avoid the rush!
As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Orders pick-up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.



"Hanging a Leo Lakes Treasured Map in a lake house, is like christening a boat with a bottle of champagne!" 


Sunday, April 28, 2019

My treasured map business card......

A mini treasured map business card.......I finally got real business cards! It took me a long time because I was never satisfied with graphics that I came up with. Fortunately, I kept trying and this is what I came up with. I like it because it's a small treasured map. The colors pop and I've placed some interesting things around.  

I think the geese are kind of neat with the shadows The star at the lake house gives you an idea that the map can be personalized without actually saying it. 

If you look real close, you can find fish jumping in the waters. I think that it's a pretty cool business card! Hey, do you like to paddle? Paddle over to LeoLakes.com and see some great treasured maps of your favorite paradise.


Unlike most maps, There’s a tiny mermaid hidden in the waters which folks love to search for and some say she moves around! You'll love the waterfowl which are hand painted (touched up) on the canvas prints to give that original look and each map is hand signed by Leo. For a personal touch, you can even add a small star to the location of your lake house or special place and add a few words such as "Evan's Lake House, Est. 2014" or be creative. The signatured Ruby Meridian, waterfowl and vintage plane have a story that’s included in the signed Certificate of Authenticity.  Leo Lakes treasured maps will make a cherished gift for that special someone. 

Friday, April 26, 2019

California Lake House Maps

Triplets! Decor maps of Pardee Reservoir, Camanche Lake, and New Hogan Lake all located in California for a customer who spent their childhood wondering these lakes. 



They're not identical, but they are custom. They will warm a lake house like a crackling fire on a cold night. In fact, here's the comment."They were delivered and Love them so much, Thank You. Take care and I really appreciate your talents."......Frame your favorite place LeoLakes.com


Paddle over to my website, I do Lake Decor Maps... Interestingly, I often get comments about the fish in the waters of all my maps. Folks love to tell me about fishing and love the jumping fish that I show on my maps. Also, they say the children really enjoy hunting for the tiny mermaid and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that mermaid and fish move, but I'm not sure that I believe that. However, if you look closely you may find her and the fish jumping around. 
Add caption

Most folks add a star to a special place on the lake such as a lake house or where they caught that "Trophy Fish". Check-out below, a customer wanted to add the place, weight and fish type of a trophy that he caught.
I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately eight years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com
Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 



I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.co