Line up boys, it's all you can eat fish!

As you can see, Pop (my father-in-law) has an audience while cleaning fish. These birds act like they are waiting to enter a five star restaurant, called "Pop's Filet," right before it opens. Anyway, Pop has been fishing down in Florida on Lemon Bay. Lucky for him, he has missed the cold hard winter and has been enjoying the 70's while we suffered in the teens. 

What was the catch of the day, Sheep's head, six to be exact. Okay, they don't look like a sheep's head, but if you look at their teeth, then you would think they have sheep teeth. That's why they are called sheep's head. They are great tasting fish, however even with the size of these shown, the meat will only be the size of  two chicken strips after they are filleted.  
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Check-out that knife that's in Pop's hand. I'm not sure if he is ready to clean fish or have a knife fight with a Great Blue Heron over his catch. Here's the good news, next week I will be on Lemon Bay hopefully catching a few fish. Wish me luck and I will post a few pictures during the trip on the blog. Oh yeah, here's one of my vintage styled maps of Lemon Bay that I personalized and gave to Pop as a gift. That's him in the photos. See more of my maps at LeoMaps.com

"Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, or at least enjoy one on the wall!"

A Terrible, Terrible Mistake!

My wife and I made a TERRIBLE mistake about a year ago and I generated this fishing disorder cartoon from that story.

You see, a year ago, my wife and I made a TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE MISTAKE. We were at Costco and we mistakenly purchased, on sale, 900 miles of SINGLE PLY toilet paper. We are so cheap we suffered through this awful error. I am now happy to say, we are officially out of toilet paper and have Charmin in the house. "We are back to happy crapping". You know, I was thinking, did I share too much information. Anyway, checkout my vintage style lake, river and bay decor maps at LeoLakes.com

"Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!"

Custom Maps

A lot of folks love the lake that they live on or near. In fact, some folks love their lake, river, or bay as much as a family pet. Here's a great little poem that my wife came up with that I use with some of my vintage style maps.  

I often do custom maps of lakes that are small and that only a few folks live on. One such lake is Glen Lake which is located in New York. I added the above poem around the perimeter for a nice touch.

Some customers frame their print in a barnwood style frame which works well with my vintage style maps. I normally have a few different types of frames in the studio. I show only one style on the website, but most of the time, I have barnwood and premium mahogany frames. Checkout my website if you are interested in a vintage style map of your favorite lake, river, and bay. If we don't have your lake, we can do a custom map of your treasured paradise. Also, I can do other maps for folks too, such as decor maps of land, farms, ranches and genealogy.  Tour my website:  Leolakes.com

   Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

Lake Lovers Decor

Not long ago, I came across this cool looking vintage style outboard motor lamp. I could not resist it, so I purchased it and placed it in my studio. The motor appears to be styled after the old 1960s Evinrude Outboard Motors. Along with the lamp, I added one of my vintage style maps of Old Hickory Lake with a small sail boat. I think it makes for a nice looking decor piece. 

Actually, I have two old outboard motors that my dad owned, one is a Wizard and the other is an Evinrude much like the motor above. I have been working on how to incorporate them into the studio. Hopefully, in the future, I will have completed this project and have pictures. If you ever need a vintage style lake map, then checkout my website at LeoLakes.com

Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

Lake Champlain Vintage Style Map

I just finished this vintage style map of beautiful Lake Champlain. I always do some research on a lake that I paint, and here's what I have discovered.  Lake Champlain is a natural lake located in Vermont and New York with a small portion in Canada. Interesting, did you know that Lake Champlain almost became the sixth great lake? Yep, but more about that later. The lake is a large lake being about 125 miles long and up to 23 miles wide. Lake Champlain is a very historic lake and was named after the French explorer who discovered it, Samuel De Champlain. In colonial times, battles were fought at Ticonderoga, Saratoga and a naval battle at Valcour Island led by Benedict Arnold.

In 1998, a bill signed by President Clinton gave Lake Champlain the title of the nation's sixth great lake, which allowed states to apply for educational and research money for the lake. There was such an uproar about the lake becoming the sixth great lake, the bill was rescinded after 18 days, but the educational and research money continued to flow.  The lake has about 80 islands. I love some of the island names such as, four brothers island. It makes me wonder why they came up with such a name?  There have been reports that a monster lives in the lake, not unlike the Loch Ness monster, but smaller. Vague descriptions indicate the monster is 5 to 10 feet long and is silver or gray.  Skeptic's suggest that it's only floating logs or large sturgeons schooling. 

Oh yeah, it's not a monster, but I do hide a tiny mermaid in all my maps for fun. Anyway, this lake does have many species of fish including huge pike, salmon, bowfin, trout, bass, walleye and large sturgeons. A great lake for the fisherman. If you like more information on a Lake Champlain vintage style map or other maps, checkout my website at LeoLakes.com. We also do custom maps and personalized maps.

Remember: " Get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, if not, then at least put on the wall." Frame your Favorite, Lake, River, or Bay, LeoLakes.com. 

Bait Me!

Here's one of my new cartoons, a carpy life. Hope you enjoy! 

Remember: If you can't get away from the big screen to a big stream, then put one on the wall! LeoMaps.com

A knock at the door

Today while at home, I heard a knock at the door. I opened the front door and found that no one was there and I wondered what caused the sound. When I looked down, I found a small Carolina Chickadee lying on its back near the edge of the first step that leads into the house. The bird was not moving and its legs were held tightly against its body. Apparently, the Chickadee had crashed into the side windows that are on each side of our front door, probably thinking it was an opening that it could fly through.   

I decided to pickup the little fellow so that I could place it in the yard, thinking that it may have just knocked its self out and would fly off. As I went to scoop the bird up, it began to move. When I put the chickadee on the ground it began to stand and flex its wings, but still not totally aware. I watched it for a few minutes and then I went back inside. After a while, I looked back outside to where I placed the small bird and found that the chickadee was gone.  I bet it had a headache. 

We have a bird feeder near this area and this may have contributed to the bird flying into the window. Interestingly, I have noticed a lot fewer chickadees at the feeder this year than in previous years. They say it is due to the severe winter because 50% of the chickadees can freeze to death during a cold winter. Well, it appears that this chickadee will make it for a while longer. Anyway, checkout my vintage style maps, custom or personalized.  

  

Oldfield News

Here's a little personal news that I'm proud of. My daughter Sarah, is the Valedictorian for her High School. This is proof that kids can still grow up in the woods and be first in their class. She has worked very hard and reached her goal. I'm not sure where she will be going to college, but she will likely study the sciences. 

Congratulations Sarah! 

What's in your river, lake, bay or woods? Get out and find out!