Yesterday my Mom said to me…..”Well, you are a Bohemian, aren’t you.”.

Bohemian! What in the world is she talking about?
I decided to look it up in the dictionary; maybe I didn’t understand the true meaning of the word. ……”a person, such as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices.”


Yep, that is what I thought it meant. But me, living without regard for conventional rules and practices? Somehow, I just don’t think the shoe fits. But then again, maybe I need to take a long look in the mirror…………. Maybe I need to change some things about myself. Could I possibly be walking on a fine line, trying to not be either a “normal” person or a “bohemian”? Hmmmm, something to ponder. I'm thinking maybe my little 92 year old mother knows me better than I know myself. I will be studying this question at greater length....

.So, now for the great evening! First Fridays are so fun, particularly when you have one or more artist friends showing their art in the wonderful galleries. This month I had many artist friends exhibiting! David Gross and I had a full evening planned!

Ada Koch and her newest painting

My dear friend, Ada Koch, has only been in her new studio space for 2 weeks now, but the place looks fantastic. The real surprise was seeing her latest work! When I first met Ada, she was teaching classes at ARTichokes, in fact, she was teaching a class I was taking. Her paintings were generally on smaller canvases covered with delightful florals or landscapes, or, they were larger wonderful portraits. She had told me she was so anxious for me to see her new work. Ada and Kevin went to France last year, and just returned from Italy, so I thought she might move in that direction. Little did I know…
Beautiful, Ada!

Next David and I walked to The Outpost, and media production center that had turned their space over to some of the artists from the Paola area. Included in the show were 3 of David’s watercolors. They looked stunning! Peter Brunke had several of his paintings there also, always bright, colorful and fun. 

Kristin Goering and her Kansas Landscape Triptych

Our next destination was the Leedy-Voulkos Gallery a block away. My last blog included a photo of my dear friend Kristin Goering and her triptych painting. Let me tell you, the photo did not begin to show the painting! It is an amazing landscape showing the Kansas that Kristin knows so well and loves dearly. Having grown up in Western Kansas, Kristin mixes the magnificent colors of the golden wheat fields, the wide blue skies, the billowy white clouds. If some Kansas corporation doesn’t snap this one up, they are crazy!

l to r...me, Winnie Davis, Audrey Benskin and Ada Koch
4 of the 7 Somerset Ridge Painters

We returned to Ada’s studio to meet up with more friends, the Somerset Ridge Painters. From there, we drove (thank God we didn’t have to walk! By this point Old David and Old Kay were a little weary!) to the River Market area to enjoy the paintings of another of our painters, Maria Johnson, known as Majo (or as I call her, Crazy Maria) My dear Colombian friend, who paints with the enthusiasm and colors of the Caribbean, was showing at 509 Delaware. As we gathered and enjoyed her work, we realized we had one more place to go, on foot. Thank goodness it was just across the street to Café Al Dente. This little Italian restaurant and bar has been open since 1991. Arch and I used to meet some dear friends there every first Wednesday for an evening of wine, beer, food, and fun. I was delighted to suggest it for our dinner last night. The Dwyers, owners, were very busy, but very accommodating. Jacqueline, who’s father was Italian and her mother was French, a powerful little dynamo who can cover 100 yards in a flash, managed to corral us at a table for 10 and we were served our beverages. Then we waited for the big moment…..

Majo! aka Maria Johnson

Our Maria was featured on a television program on channel 10, KSMO. This program features Spanish speaking people who have made a difference in our world. The Dwyers turned off the music, turned all of the televisions (4) to channel 10 and hooked the audio into the sound system. As we sat and waited, surrounding tables also waited, not leaving even though they were finished with their dinner! As the program came on, the entire room became still…even those at the bar! Before we knew it, there was beautiful Maria giving the interviewer a tour of her studio and explaining the importance of her home in her paintings. Cheers went up throughout Café Al Dente! Majo strikes again! The star of the evening!
It was a very good evening! My heartiest congratulations to all of the artists!


Maria had one disappointing moment last night. Café Al Dente ran out of Alfreddo Sauce right before we arrived! So, for Maria, here is my favorite recipe, no cream cheese in this one! This is truly authentic!

                                      This delicious pasta recipe is courtsey of Russell Bellanca from Alfredo of Rome.

Fettuccine Alfredo Serves 2 to 4

Ingredients
1 pound fettuccine
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 ounces freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving

Directions
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt; return to a boil. Add fettuccine and cook until al dente according to package directions.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, cheese, and pepper until mixture becomes smooth, about 5 minutes.
3. Drain fettuccine, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water. Toss fettuccine with cheese mixture and reserved cooking water until completely incorporated. Serve immediately with additional cheese sprinkled on top, if desired.