Thieving Pelican

I've been in Florida for the past week enjoying the sunshine and fishing. Here's an interesting story that occurred while on the water. In this picture, Pop, my father-in-law, is cleaning fish when a rowdy pelican steals a fish. Pop chases the pelican with his fillet knife. The pelican, in fear for its life, drops the fish and if you look closely, you can see the dropped fish on the deck. Also, check the crowd of pelicans gathered around. 

Moral of the story, don't steal from Pop! Also, no pelicans were harmed in the making of this story. If you are in need of a beautiful vintage style maps of your favorite lakes, rivers, and bays check-out my web site LeoLakes.com.

Find the hidden mermaid. Click Below!

Most viewed fishing cartoon

I have been drawing fishing cartoons and adding them to my blog for the last few years. Do you want to know the most poplar? Probably not, but I'll tell you anyway, It's the bait kissing cartoon. It has had over 700 views in less than two years. I'm not sure why it's so popular, but maybe it's because some fisherman somewhere has actually got hooked while kissing his bait. All I can say is ouch!   

Remember to get away from the big screen and get on a big stream! 

Hey, if you are a lake, river or bay lover checkout my decor maps at www.LeoMaps.com

Lucy the Water Dog!

This is my dog in front of this Lake Champlain Map. It may look real, but this is not a real dog, it's stuffed. When I was a child, I had a dog named Lucy who loved the water and went on all of our adventures to the Lakes and Rivers. I keep this stuffed dog, also named Lucy the water dog, in my studio to remember all the fun that we had. 

This beautiful map of Lake Champlain is for a customer in Vermont. This decor map is large, 6ft-4in x 3ft-2in. and is gallery wrapped. The map is from a watercolor painting and is printed on canvas with archival inks. After printing, I come back and hand paint areas of the map to high light them, such as the birds etc...

Interestingly, I hide things in the waters. Folks love to search the waters looking for the hidden items. They are tiny, but they certainly make this map a conversational piece. 

One of the neat things that make my maps special, is that you can tell what time of day it is on the map. As shown, If the shadow is on the west side of the birds, then the sun is rising. If the shadow is on the east side of the birds, then the sun is setting.

I use waterfowl that are common for the lake area, such as Canadian Geese, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle etc... These three Canadian Geese appear to float over the map.  I try to name important area's on the lake, especially the islands, points, rivers etc... I added this sail boat to the picture because I thought it would make an interesting photo. Check the colors out of the lake. 

This map is gallery wrapped and the sides are 1-1/2 inches thick. The map actually wraps around the sides of the frame. You will find no road names, county, or state lines on my maps. I have found that folks enjoy traveling the roads with their eyes, while trying to get their bearing. I call this the "Leo Lakes gaze."

If you would love a great map or you know someone who lovers a lake, river or bay, then a treasured map from Leo Maps would make a great gift. Have it custom or personalized! Check-out my website below and remember: "Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream." Paddle over to LeoLakes.com
  

Fishermen, what not to do in bed, never!

You can eat crackers in bed, but never do this!

I've never cleaned my tackle box out in bed, but I can certainly understand the trouble it might get you into. Hope you enjoyed my cartoon.

If you ever need a map of your favorite fishing hole, then check out my website LeoLakes.com. Frame your favorite lake, river, and bay.

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!

The Bobber Head & Fish Fry

Here's a few of my fishing cartoons that I can relate with. I spent a little more time on drawing them. Enjoy!

I can "kind of" relate to this cartoon. A few years ago on Valentines Day, my wife gave me some odd gifts, nuts and underwear, yep I said nuts and underwear. It sounds funny but, It was actually nice because I needed the underwear and I like nuts. Now, chocolate and roses are not the only things that show love, even nuts and underwear can. To be honest, you need to be married a few years before you start getting what you need on Valentines Day.

Again, I can relate to this cartoon. We've all been to a fish fry and ate too much, right? But have you ever been to a vegetable steam and ate too much? Do they even have vegetable steams? I don't think so because FISH RULE!

Fish Stration

A few of my cartoons to brighten this winter weather, Fish-stration. Enjoy!

Get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

It was as if a motorcycle gang had showed up at the bird feeder.

Yesterday in the ten acre woods, the birds at the feeder started freaking out. I looked out thinking that our cat was playing hide and pounce with the birds. Luckily, I didn't have to run out and chase the cat away on a cold winter day.  

It was a Red Shoulder Hawk low in the trees eyeing the activity around the feeder. I was lucky to get a nice photo of him while he was on a low branch. It was interesting while watching the birds at the feeder when the hawk was near. The small birds, Titmouse and Chick-a-dees, were not troubled by the hawk, however the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Crows quickly left as if a motorcycle gang had showed up at the neighborhood bar. 

Life is short, discover whats in your woods, river, lake, or bay! 

Our Neighbors!

Not far from the back of our home (about 25 ft. from our back door), My wife discovered this nest about 10 feet above the ground. Luckily, I didn't wander near the nest during the summer time, because I am allergic to bee stings. In fact, so allergic that one sting and I will end up in the hospital. Anyway, it's likely that the nest was built last spring and we didn't see it until the winter when the leaves were gone. 

I did a little research and found that it's built by a Bald Faced Hornet and there stings are pretty nasty. This hornet is aggressive and will attack if you approach the nest. They average about 400 hornets and eat insects such as caterpillars, fly's, but little nectar. You know, there were almost no fly's around the house last summer. At this time of year, they say that there's no hornets in the nest, we shall see, because my goal is to remove the nest and bring it inside. I will let you know how this goes.

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

Flying Fish

When do you know that you have found your calling?

A few years ago, I got to follow my dream, a dream of having my own studio and creating the art that I love. After some wandering around on exactly what I wanted to produce, then putting all my creative and artistic ability in to it, I can now say that I have found it, "producing creative decor maps of places that folks love." I think this email below, from one of my customers pretty much sums it up, I have found my calling!" 

I received my custom, Hammock Lake decor map yesterday and was like a kid opening it on Christmas Day.  I could not wait to see it, and it definitely did not disappoint! It it stunning!!  Thank you so much for working with me to create this amazing focal point of my home. Your work is gorgeous and is just what I had been looking for!! I absolutely love the barn wood frame!! Thank you also for your promptness on answering your emails and for the super quick delivery.  Your business is more than 5 star and is so much appreciated!!! Thank you again and have a GREAT 2014!!

Have a very Happy New Year and remember "Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream."