fall
HOME style MAGAZINE
PUBLISHER Jim Shrader (618)463-2580 jshrader@thetelegraph.com
EDITOR IN CHIEF Dan Brannan (618)463-2560 dbrannan@thetelegraph.com
EDITOR Kathie Bassett (618)463-2562 kbassett@thetelegraph.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Georgia Mills (618)463-2554 gmills@thetelegraph.com
Editor’s note
4
Harvest Table
Lab Chemistry
5
Man’s best friends are perfect housemates
Partners in design
6
Couple creates bluff-top haven
Heartland heritage
12
Johnson’s farm is history in making
Ask a Professional
15
Midwest Basement Technologies
GRAPHIC SUPERVISOR Joe Wilson (618)463-2599 jwilson@thetelegraph.com
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Johnny Aguirre (618)463-2543 jaguirre@thetelegraph.com
SALES COORDINATOR Sue Ellen Boschert (618)463-2532 sboschert@thetelegraph.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Winter interest
15
Doug Conley, columnist
Icing on the cake
16
Seasonal favorites from Duke’s Bakery
Bird is the Word
17
Fall is time to plan for birdfeeding
Fall for seasonal decor 18 Woman handmakes most of what she displays
Margie M. Barnes (Photography) Fred Pollard Doug Conley Danette Watt Laura Griffith
Lasting Impressions
22
Local artist, Dan Fishback
Man Cave
24
Bethalto man right at home with plane he built
THE
TELEGRAPH
www.thetelegraph.com 2
Fall 2010
Cover photo, see Editor's Note on page 4. Inside cover, a view of the Mississippi River from the top of Chuck and Joan Sheppard's Japanese garden.
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editor’s note
"There is a harmony In autumn, and a lustre in its sky, Which through the summer is not heard or seen, As if it could not be, as if it had not been!"
kathie BASSETT
— Percy Bysshe Shelley
Harvest table In a fitting nod to the season, let fall be the guide for your table by incorporating the freshest produce and flowers in the glorious colors of autumn: the burnished hues of pumpkin, eggplant, cinammon and cloves mixed with vibrant orange, yellow, purple and red. With a slight chill creeping into the air, Princivalli's in Alton created a hearty harvest feast of eggplant parmesan on pasta, an Italian salad and garlic bread to satisfy a craving for comfort food. Emphasizing an autumnal palette, Macy's at Alton Square provided two complemtary sets of Fiesta dinnerware in paprika and tangerine reminiscent of fall foliage at its peak. Macy's extended the seasonal theme by pairing placemats and napkins by Vera, dark wood salad bowls by The Cellar, pewter serving spoons in a leaf motif by Martha Stewart and stainless steel flatware by Gorham. Michael Stevens of MS Designs concocted a lavish centerpiece, stacking pumpkins and gourds and interweaving dried berries, twigs and fresh flowers to create a focal point for the table that truly celebrates the fall harvest. Containers designed by Seasons Garden Center by White's pay homage to the history of Chuck and Debbie Rathert's home as a centennial farm, handed down through Chuck's family. Set in front of the Rathert's rustic red barn in Edwardsville, the table celebrates man's enduring partnership with the land. For a video demonstration of how to make eggplant parmesan, search Local Videos & Promotions at www.thetelegraph.com for Home Style: Eggplant Parmesan by Princivalli's. Enjoy dining and being outside this fall as much as possible - winter is just around the corner! Kathie
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Fall 2010
Princivalli's Eggplant Parmesan: Trim skin from eggplants and cut into thick slices. Coat the slices with flour, then dip into a mixture of half-and-half cream and egg before coating with breadcrumbs seasoned with Italian spices. Saute in olive oil and butter until golden brown, flipping once. Remove to a pan that can be transfered to
the oven, ladle your favorite tomato sauce onto the bottom, place the eggplant slices on top, add more sauce and finish with mozzarella cheese sprinkled with parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Bake until cheese melts and slightly browns. While waiting, heat the precooked pasta of your choice in the same tomato sauce and transfer to a platter; place eggplant on top and sprinkle with more parmesan cheese. For design consultation, contact Michael Stevens at (618) 406-3423.
The Telegraph/MARGIE M. BARNES
Left, Craig Kittstein, of Jerseyville, pitches a toy into the pool during a little recreation time with his two chocolate labs Gus, 5, and Lil, 8. The mother and son hunting dogs have been trained since they were pups. Above, Gus takes a flying leap into the pool to fetch his toy, a beloved activity.
Lab chemistry
Man's best friends are perfect housemates
raig Kittstein is driving home, thinking he has had better days.
C
By Fred Pollard So far, he has been bitten by a dog and stung by a wasp, all before 5 p.m. Thankfully, he has someone excited to see him at the end of the day: his two chocolate Labrador retrievers, Gus and Lil. "I have raised them since they were pups," Craig said. "We got them from breeding a pair of labs. Gus is part of a bloodline we have had for about 25 years." As Craig gets settled in after a long day as a window and door installer for Dalco Home Remodeling, he knows what parts of the house to stay away from for fear of giving the dogs the wrong idea. "When you get your hunting stuff together, they know right away where they are going and they start to get excited," he said. "God forbid you get a gun out in front of them; they really perk up then." Craig and his wife, Corinne, live on 15 acres in a rural area near Jerseyville, where 8year-old Lil and 5-year-old Gus are "country
dogs," happy to do their share of exploring and digging in the dirt. As the weather turns cold and hunting season rolls around, however, each dog is a "labat-the-door." "Gus is a big ole' lunkhead," Kittstein said. "He loves to get geese, even more than duck hunting. "Lil is pretty aggressive when fetching with other dogs. She tore her anterior cruciate ligament and had to have her knees fixed. She was an indoor dog for a while, and she knew when she would see us leaving without her that we were going hunting and she was staying behind. Now that she is ready to hunt again, she is raring to go."
Both dogs have been hunting with Craig since they were about a year old. For him, it is about sharing his excitement and his passion for hunting with the dogs. "I have been involved with the Sportsmens Club since the early 1990s," he said. "I have been hunting since around eighth- or ninthgrade. I enjoy duck, deer, and geese hunting; that takes up most of my time. I try to go every weekend from October until January, and my wife can attest to that. "She is a trooper. Some wives will take so much of this hunting stuff, but she is good to me. It has worked out well; I am able to stay out of her way for a while and she can do her own thing." Craig and Corinne have been married since 1993. The pair shares a love for water skiing, which initially brought them together. The dogs tag along on hunting and camping trips, but Craig says they do not ski. After a few minutes of tender loving care from Gus and Lil, Craig has forgotten all about his earlier travails, content to enjoy the summer evening with his wife and the dogs in the family's favorite backyard pastime. "The dogs love the swimming pool," he said. "They think it is the neatest thing in the world. I think that is the only time they get a bath, except when they roll in something." fpollard@thetelegraph.com
Home Style
5
Left, Chuck and Joan Sheppard enjoy their outdoor patio. Below, the Sheppards' living room has expansive windows to take advantage of their spectacular view. Employing her creative talents, Joan made the patchwork pillows out of clothing labels.
Partners in design:
Couple creates bluff-top haven By Kathie Bassett ith expansive windows facing the Mississippi River below, Chuck and Joan Sheppard have the sense of being outside even while inside their home of 54 years in Godfrey. "The change of the seasons, even the wonder of every 24 hours, is dramatically portrayed when you have the luck to live on a high bluff above the mighty Mississippi River," Joan said. An engineer, Chuck is the chairman of the board of Sheppard, Morgan and Schwaab engineers in Alton; Joan is a dedicated community volunteer who served on the Alton The simple School Board during geometric lines construction and dediof house's design cation of the new Alton High School campus. underscore the The Sheppard family natural beauty has long been associatof the setting. ed with Rosenberg Reflecting this Lane. Chuck grew up spending time on the minimalist lane in a home his famiaesthetic, Joan ly rented during the chose - and has summer months. maintained - a Given the property as a wedding present limited color by Chuck's parents, the palette of black, Sheppards designed white, gray and the mid-century modern red throughout home themselves. The challenge, however, the first floor. was that Chuck began his military service in Germany shortly after their marriage so much of the design process took place via correspondence. The simple geometric lines of house's design underscore the natural beauty of the setting. Reflecting this minimalist aesthetic, Joan chose - and has maintained - a limited color palette of black, white, gray and red throughout the first floor. "We love our home," Joan said. "For us, it's perfect - so why we would change anything?" Their only major home project was adding
W
continued on page 10
6
Fall 2010
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From Page 6 Photos By Margie M. Barnes From top left, clockwise: This second-floor bedroom looks out on the Sheppards' Japanese garden featured on page 2. Right, Many unusual plants, including the trumpet flower, or Brugsmansia, are clustered on the deck near the water garden. Below, designed in the 1950s, Joan's kitchen is primarily white and black, with red accents. What is still called the girls' bedroom contains many family heirlooms, creating a cozy atmosphere.
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Fall 2010
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The Sheppards use this area to serve guests outside; the strawberry-rhubarb pie is from Duke Bakery.
Partners in design: From Page 10 an addition after their daughter Rachel was born, joining their three older children, Cas, Sarah and Amy. In contrast to the sleek decor of the downstairs living area, the upstairs bedrooms are filled with family heirlooms and pictures. This blending of traditional pieces with more contemporary ones creates an eclectic style. While the interior may have changed little over the last half-century, the garden has evolved from unfinished areas where the kids played in mud puddles to multi-tiered terraces that wrap around the house. The Sheppards began working in earnest in their garden 30 years ago after taking a series of classes at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Divided into distinct areas, the garden to the house's immediate right is called the Moon Garden Bed, containing all white flowers. The bluff is planted with Forsythia and random bulbs and hostas so that blooms can be seen throughout the season. The Sheppards, who enjoy both the look and sound of fountains, have seven scattered throughout their gardenscape. Chuck created a Japanese garden to the left of the house, which also has a large water feature below it. "This is our 'A-Ha,'" Joan said. "Every garden should have an area, when viewed, that should surprise and delight so that the viewer says, 'A-Ha.'" The themed-garden's centerpiece is a coral-bark maple. Joan has complemented the vivid hue of the tree's trunk with several "tree" sculptures that she made from bamboo that she painted red. While Joan is the visionary, Chuck enjoys translating her ideas into reality. Once they decided to build a dry-stack retaining wall to create a perennial garden adjacent to the Japanese garden, Chuck built a stone wall, lifting some 60 tons of rock into place himself. "I like the creative, physical part," Chuck said. "My satisfaction is in the end result when I can stand back and see how what I've done looks, I really enjoy that feeling."
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Home Style
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Heartland heritage Story and photos by Kathie Bassett tanding on a rolling ridge slightly northeast of Alton, Lloyd Johnson surveys the land that has been his family's home for the last 160 years. Recognized as a sesquicentennial farm in 2000, the Johnson farm has been continuously owned and operated by members of the Johnson family since June 7, 1850, the date when James H. and Eleanor (Maddin) Johnson purchased the farm. With this distinction, the farm is one of the oldest farms to be continuously owned by an African-American family in the nation. A freeman, Lloyd's great-grandfather was a harness maker, who came to the area from Virginia by way of Kentucky and Missouri. "I always knew that if I took a job away from here that I would find a way back to the country," Lloyd said. "I like farming - I've been
S Minnie and Lloyd Johnson stand behind signs that recognize their farm as a centennial farm in 1950 and a sesquicentennial farm in 2000. Below, Lloyd's parents, Cyrus and Jennie Cornelia Johnson, stand in front of the farm, with Lloyd's younger sister, Adele Johnson Carpenter, sitting on the truck.
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Fall 2010
Johnson family's farm is history in making involved in it almost all Oak Leaf my life." Farm has Lloyd, 71, along with his four brothers and been five sisters, was born in the bedroom at the continuously front of the house that owned and he shares with his wife of 48 years, Minnie. operated by With almost a 30-year members of age range among them, the Johnson siblings the Johnson never all lived in the family since home at the same time. Lloyd's parents built June 7, 1850. the current house in 1933, following the loss of the original two-story home in a fire. The community rallied around the family and continued on next page
pitched in to help them rebuild on the site, keeping the growing family together under one roof. After spending two years in the military, Lloyd worked as a logistician for the Department of Defense in St. Louis for 35 years, retiring in 1994. He was involved in the development of both the Blackhawk and Apache helicopters. During this phase of his life, he would spend what free time he had working on the farm with his father. Lloyd and Minnie lived in the city of Alton during the early years of their marriage, purchasing the farm once Lloyd's father had died in 1993. Over the years, they have remodeled, updating the kitchen, adding a study, bathroom and spacious sun porch. Surrounding the house, there's a smokehouse, chicken coop and shed that remain largely as they were during his parents' life-
The kitchen is at the heart of the Johnson home. Off the kitchen, the comfortable living room is connected to the bedroom, in which Lloyd was born. times. Although Lloyd no longer actively farms, he still has a few cattle and goats on the property, renting most of the remaining 82 acres to
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Stutz Farms, which grows corn, soybeans and wheat on the land. continued on page 14
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Home Style
13
Above, James Henry and Elinor Johnson family reunion at Oak Leaf Farm, in 1904. Below, Lloyd tends to the cows.
The couple has one son, Michael, who lives in Edwardsville, and two grandsons, Ian and Ivan. Michael, a 20-year veteran of the Air Force, is a certified pharmacy technician who was serving as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the pharmacy at the Pentagon when it was attacked on 9/11. For his heroism, Michael received a commendation medal. In 2006, Lloyd auctioned off the vast majority of his farm equipment, retiring from the day-to-day responsibilities. "When you've read a page in a book, there's no need to go back and re-read it," he said philosophically. "It's not going to change." While Lloyd enjoyed the independence and privacy of farming, he feels that "it was part of the promise that the Lord made to his fore parents." "This is still a puzzle to me," he deadpanned, with a twinkle in his eyes. "Especially, when I consider the fact that I strongly dislike cold weather."
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Fall 2010
Minnie maintains a vegetable garden near the house and donates the produce to their church. The Johnsons are actively involved with Heartland Baptist Church in Alton; Minnie devotes much of her energy to missionary work, and Lloyd is a Romeo (Retired old men eating out), donating time to do good deeds. Refecting his deep commitment to the community, Lloyd served on the Alton School Board. Additionally, Lloyd is a well-known gospel singer. Having toured throughout the country, Lloyd recorded a CD to help fund the building of a Baptist church in Nicaragua. "Cities are a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live in one," Lloyd said. "I like it best out in the country." And on the land that his great-grandparents, grandparents and parents have tread before him. Kbassett@thetelegraph.com
Doug
Ask a Professional
CONLEY DIRECTOR OF THE GARDENS AT SIUE
Midwest Basement Technologies Q. My basement is damp, but I can't find the source of the problem - what should I do? How can I tell if the problem is from seepage or condensation? A. Seepage will usually show up after heavy rains and then STEVE JONES go away shortly after. Condensation will appear during summer months and will appear as dark areas in the basement floor, droplets on concrete, duct work or pipes. Keeping the basement humidity level below 55 percent will help correct the condensation problem. If it is a groundwater problem then waterproofing would be recommended. Q. Can gutters and downspouts cause my basement to leak? A. Having functioning gutters and downspouts will help divert water away from your foundation. Allowing water to be dumped along your foundation will cause walls to crack, leak and future failing of existing drain tile. Downspouts should be extended away from foundation for best results. Q. I can see that water is coming in through a crack, and I know I need to have something done, but I'm worried about the mess. Will my landscaping and basement be destroyed during the installation of a drainage system? A. Due to the new technology available most repairs can be completed from the inside of your basement with very little disruption and no damage to exterior landscaping. Q. Are warranties available for this kind of installation? What happens if the problem isn't fixed? A. Most of the patented and engineered systems have lifetime transferable guarantees that protect you and any future buyers of your home. Not correcting the problem can create mold and damage to basement walls and floors due to buildup of water around the foundation. Generally, the company performing the installation will provide the warranty service as well. Q. Are there any specific problems that I should look for as the season changes? A. Yes, windows and doors that stick, cracks in brickwork or plaster, along with cracks in basement walls. These problems can be the beginning signs of settlement and needs to be addressed before a more severe problem occurs.
Winter Interest or many people, fall is their favorite season. I am certain this is because short days and cool nights trigger senescence in plants. Specifically, we love the fall colors! I savor all seasons, although the hot summer tested my resolve on this matter. When designing landscapes, we tend to think of three seasons: the rebirth found in spring, the flowers of summer, and the colors of fall. The odd-season out is winter. This may be because people think there is "nothing of interest," botanically speaking, in winter. This is not true, nor is it necessary to have a drab January landscape. There is time to add interest to your landscape by considering the winter characteristics of plants. These include the plants' form (shape), bark, fruit, and foliage (yes, foliage). Form, especially on deciduous plants, is best viewed in the winter. The contorted branches of Henry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta) and pendulous branches of Weeping White Pine (Pinus strobus 'Pendula') are perfectly suitable for a place of honor in your landscape. Bark comes in a variety of colors, shades, textures, and, of course, is visible all year. Coral Bark Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku') and Redosier Dogwood (Cornus sericia) are standouts in the winter landscape. Don't forget the "exfoliators" like Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum) or Shagbark Hickory (Cary ovata). Fruits are interesting to both animals and humans. While we want to provide food for feathered and furry friends, it's nice to have some fruit that "hangs around" throughout the winter. The panicles of Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) provide a rugged, yet attractive, coarseness especially against a fresh snow. The fruit of Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and Beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma) are persistent and tend to escape beaks and jaws. The foliage of ornamental grasses will gracefully wave and gently rustle in the winter wind. The height and plumes of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) are certain to impress your neighbors. The bluish hue of Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) in summer gives way to the crimson of
F
WINTERBERRY FRUIT fall and winter. Each is a native plant and thrives year round in our climate. So I ask you "why settle for a three-season landscape when life is lived year round?"
Other plants with interesting winter characteristics: ● Striped Maple (Acer pennsylvanicum) ● River Birch (Betula nigra) ● American Beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana) ● Yellowtwig dogwood (Cornus sericia 'Flaviramea') ● Hawthorn's (Crateagus species) ● Crabapples (Malus species) ● Eulalia (Miscanthus sinensis 'Adagio') ● Stewartia (Stewartia ovata or S. pseudocamellia) ● Weeping Alaskan Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula') ● Weeping Spruce (Picea abies 'Pendula')
Home Style
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It’s the icing on the cake By Kathie Bassett t Duke Bakery, third-generation owners Ben and Amy Doucleff Hollis try to offer items that use the flavors of the season, emphasizing apple and pumpkin baked goods in early fall. "October is our pumpkin month so we have pumpkin pies, pumpkin muffins and bread, pumpkin donuts and cookies - even pumpkin-shaped treats for dogs." Some of This December, the the seasonal Doucleff family bakery will celebrating 59 years at favorites are be 819 Henry St. in Alton. toffee apple Everything made at the pie, an apple bakery is from scratch, including all their pie fillbeehive ings. Danish and Ben is in charge of the baking process, leaving Duke's most of the decorating to signature Amy and Kelly Bruns. His pumpkin pie, one area of decorating which has a expertise, however, is very special placing fondant icing on a cake. ingredient "Fondant takes time first added and there are some ingredients that are difficult to by Amy's he said. "The rolled grandfather. use," fondant adds a sleek, elegant look to a cake. I really like to use a chocolate fondant and have Kelly make mums in fall colors on top - it's a really nice look." Ben is so used to baking in large batches that he said he can no longer bake in a home kitchen. "Here at Duke's we think of pounds and ounces, not cups and teaspoons," he said. Some of the seasonal favorites are toffee
A
Duke Bakery's Kelly Bruns and Ben Hollis collaborate on decorating a chocolate fondant cake.
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Fall 2010
continued on next page
In keeping with each season, Duke Bakery offers fall-themed cookies and cupcakes.
apple pie, an apple beehive Danish and Duke's signature pumpkin pie, which has a very special ingredient first added by Amy's grandfather. "It's very subtle and just adds a bit of sweetness," he explained, but declined revealing the exact name of the secret ingredient. The only months that Dukes doesn't feature a special line of baked goods are November and December, concentrating instead on holiday favorites. One of their busiest times of the year spans between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and this year the Hollises are anticipating the birth of their second child the week before Christmas. "This could be very interesting," Ben smiled. Duke Bakery is open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday. To see Ben and Kelly decorate the fall fondant cake, search Local Videos & Promotions at www.thetelegraph.com for Home Style: Cake Decorating Tips from Duke Bakery. kbassett@thetelegraph.com
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Fall for seasonal decor
By Laura Griffith hen retired second-grade teacher Marianne Mercer moved into her dream home with her husband Ray in 2004, she brought her love of crafts and her flair for organization with her. A bigger house means more possibilities for decorating, and Mercer, who taught in East Alton for 30 years, enjoys hand-making most of what she displays. Upstairs, she has an entire room dedicated to crafting, sewing and painting. Situated on top of her desk are six shelves of acrylic paints, organized by color. In a nearby closet, Mercer reveals her organization genius - red, yellow and teal plastic storage units she used in school, repurposed for storing her crafting supplies and decorations for her home. "I do just about everything - from painting to flowers," she said. "I sew, but only for fun. I used to make clothes for my granddaughters when they were little, but not anymore. I just like making stuff for the house." Throughout the house, more closets than most can count are filled with knick-knacks and decor, all neatly put away so they're easy to pull out when Marianne desires. Downstairs in the basement, one closet is dedicated to fall decorations, while another focuses on Christmas and other random items. In a nearby storage room, the Mercers keep all the holiday wreaths for their house as well as the ones used to decorate the entrance to the subdivision, hanging from the rafters. In the same room, two full-sized Christmas trees stand fully decorated all year round, ready for display.
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Marianne has a room devoted to her craft projects. With an eye for color and texture, she likes to create one-of-a-kind arrangements for her home.
18
Fall 2010
The two-story home allows ample room for entertaining friends and family, along with the space to display many of Marianne's projects, which she rotates seasonally. A former teacher, Marianne thrives on organization, storing each season's decor in separate areas of the basement.
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The open floor plan unites the kitchen, breakfast room and den. Marianne created the table's centerpiece by filling a vase with small pumpkins and gourds and then affixing an arrangement on top of the vessel for dramatic effect.
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Marianne decorates throughout the entire home, from the ornate prism glass front door to the gas log fireplace that keeps the family toasty in the wintertime. But even in the off season, she makes sure the home displays a certain charm. One bedroom upstairs is decorated for the couple's 11-year-old grandson Drake Gaines, and filled with toys and a computer for when he visits. The other is a guest bedroom furnished with heirlooms from family and friends - from the rocking chair that once belonged to Ray's grandfather to a table that belonged to his great aunt. Downstairs in the dining room, Marianne has a full-sized table, a new chandelier and a china cabinet for storing "pretty things," since she doesn't own traditional china - things that Marianne didn't have in their much smaller first home. In some rooms, though, it's what one doesn't see that's special. In a pantry between the dining room and kitchen is a speaker system that runs throughout the entire home. In the kitchen, Marianne worked in extra shelving to fit more dishes into the cupboard. In the master bedroom, it's the flat screen television that sits in a loft cut out of the wall rather than on a piece of furniture. Everything has its place. "I've always been organized," Marianne said. "I can pack an elephant in a tin can I'm sure." But instead of a tin can, the couple finally has the space to enjoy.
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Bird is the word By Steve WHITWORTH
Fall good time to pick bird feeders
grackles to perch and gobble up all the goodies. Feeders with relatively short perches and no trays work best. Specially designed thistle feeders will keep your goldfinches and house finches happy, and with a little luck, you might attract a winter rarity, such as a purple finch or pine siskin. Nylon sock feeders are another good way to provide thistle seed to your finches. Finally, your birds always will be grateful if you provide water during the winter. You can buy heaters that will keep your birdbaths free of ice when temperatures dip below freezing. These also can be used to heat in-ground water features.
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By Steve Whitworth Fall is a time of transition for bird lovers. After the excitement of the spring migration, with its brightly colored songbirds passing through the River Bend on their way to points north, and the hot summer, with its breeding species raising their young, autumn can seem a bit dull. Many of the summer breeders already have left for warmer climes, and even many of the songbirds on their returning migration southward display colors drabber than their vibrant spring plumages. To be sure, fall can be an exciting time for birdwatchers who enjoy viewing migratory shorebirds and raptors, but those are mostly found in specialized habitats along the Mississippi River For the average Flyway. For the average person who person who enjoys watching birds enjoys watching in their back yard and birds in their back neighborhood, the yard and activity level is noticeneighborhood, ably lower. Most of the ruby-throated the activity level is hummingbirds are noticeably lower. gone by October, and even the American goldfinches are turning from cheerful yellow to their less conspicuous winter plumage. But one way to snap out of the fall doldrums is to get ready for the cold weather by planning your bird-feeding strategies. A little forethought can pay off in higher numbers of feathered guests flocking to your feeders for a winter feast. If last year's bird feeders are looking a bit worse for wear, give them a thorough cleaning or buy some new ones. The sturdy metal feeders and solid wooden ones likely will last more than one season, but if funds are limited, the cheaper plastic variety will serve at least through the winter at little cost. If you have a problem with house sparrows and starlings mobbing your feeders, avoid the mixes that include white millet. I like to use black oil sunflower seeds. I also recommend against feeders with trays on the bottom, because they make it too easy for house sparrows, starlings and common
Birds need water in winter to keep their feathers clean. Dirty feathers don't insulate well and also flight less efficient - clean feathers in winter is imperative.
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Lasting impressions
L Artist Dan Fishback takes to the streets of Elsah to paint. Dan's gallery is scheduled to open on La Salle Street in October.
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Fall 2010
By Laura Griffith
ocal artist Dan Fishback is preparing to open his own gallery in the quaint bluffside town of Elsah, sometime this October. The gallery will be located at 18 LaSalle St. "I'll also have a “I study a lot - I'm studio there - one side is the studio always seeing and one side is the paintings when I gallery," said the 63-year-old artist look at scenes. Driving back and from St. Louis County, who has forth to Elsah, I been painting for about 11 years. see paintings all "I've always liked the time. I'm Elsah a lot, and I've always thinking always wanted to have my own art whether I'm place. " doing it or not. Dan discovered Art's just my life his knack for art by accident - while now. It's been waiting for a callthat way for quite back from IBM computer technical a while.” support one night, DAN FISHBACK he began to doodle Artist and decided to try and draw a horse from memory. "When my family came home that night I showed it to them, and then drew a horse from a picture. I could draw well as a child so I knew I had some ability," he said. "Then about 12 years ago I took a drawing class, and I thought I did pretty well. So, after that, I decided to take a watercolor class." From there, he learned more on his own through books and magazines, and by attending various workshops. "Gradually I started entering shows, joined artist organizations, and started getting some awards. Very soon, it became much more than a hobby to me," he said. Eventually, Dan worked his way from watercolor to acrylic and then to oil painting, which has been his medium of choice for the past six years.
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A plein art painter, Dan's impressionistic style is suited to landscape painting. Below, Dan also paints still lifes, such as this single pear. "I study a lot - I'm always seeing paintings when I look at scenes," he said. "Driving back and forth to Elsah, I see paintings all the time. I'm always thinking art whether I'm doing it or not. Art's just my life now. It's been that way for quite a while." Dan mostly paints landscapes these days, but he also enjoys painting cityscapes. His particular style is plein air painting, or painting on location in the open air, a style that started with French impressionists who would take their families outdoors, set up their easels and paint whatever was in front of them, he said. His favorite painting is titled, "St. Charles Cityscape II." Dan painted the scene from a photograph taken in the early evening after a rain - with the lights reflecting in the street. He has done many paintings of Elsah as well. "I always have things that I want to paint, but I never had the time," he said. "There are just so many things that I'm inspired by. I'm anxious to get settled in so I can start painting more." To see more examples of Dan's work, go to www.danielfishbackfineart.com.
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MAN CAVE
Hangar-on
Gene Helmkamp stands next to the plane that he built from a Van's Aircraft kit.
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Fall 2010
Bethalto man right at home with plane he built
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By Danette M. Watt ene Helmkamp, 70, has earned his wings. Semi-retired after operating Helmkamp Auto Service for 43 years, the Bethalto resident often retreats to St. Louis Regional Airport and the hangar that houses the two-seater plane he built. "There are a lot of retired men out there. Some are messy and some are pretty darn neat. I'm in between," Gene said. His plane sits on a piece of carpeting taken from his home when he and his wife, Janet, 68, moved to the condo where they now live. Gene has been flying since 1968. After flying other peoples' planes for 27 years, he decided it was time to get his own.
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1HZ QDPH 6DPH JUHDW FUHGLW XQLRQ "My wife bought me kit plans for Christmas one year and after that, there were tools and plane parts all over the place," he said. Gene built the RV-6A model by Van's Aircraft, one of the most popular kit model planes. The 20-foot-long metal plane has an equally popular Lycoming engine, a general aviation engine. Off-white with striping, it has a wingspan of 23 feet. Although newer planes have advanced instrument panels that "look like TVs," his plane has the traditional dials of 1970s and 1980s technology.
In the course of his travels, Gene has acquired a collection of hats that he displays in the hangar.
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Fall 2010
Above, Gene's desk in his hangar, with a sign that his wife Jan gave him as a present; Gene is pointing out a feature that he just updated on his instrument panel; Gene's mascot, a present from his grandchildren, accompanies him on every flight..
"I had confidence I could build it. From the time when the grass turned green to when the leaves fell, I didn't work on it. It was a winter project," Gene said. In 2003, Janet took over the yard work and he stepped up work on the plane. It was the 100th anniversary of Orville and Wilbur Wright's first powered flight and Gene wanted to get his plane finished. "The Experimental Aircraft Association was giving out special recognition if you could get your plane flying (that year). I got a certificate, a fancy plaque for my plane and my name in a book," he said. Gene and his wife take "lots of short flights, 100 miles or less. We like to go to Lake of the Ozarks, Branson, Indiana, and Kentucky." Mackinac Island is a favorite destination; he and his wife have been there four times and were getting ready to take the three-hour flight up again. "They have a pretty airport at the top of the island," he said. The Helmkamps like it because "it's quiet and laid back. No automobiles to contend with." Gene said he is a "pretty conventional pilot. I don't go unless I know I can get there. I'm halfway retired so I don't have to get home. If the weather is bad, I can pull out the credit card and stay another night. I don't have 'get-home-itis.'" Because he still puts in fairly regular hours at his shop, Gene isn't able to get out to the airport until Saturday mornings. When he does, though, it's time to chat with the "regulars" and compare notes on plane performance. Some planes are able to fly as fast as 350 mph. His plane's top speed is 170 mph. "And sometimes three or four or five of us will fly to an airport that's serving breakfast or we'll get there for lunch. We call it the '$100 hamburger.' Although by today's prices it's probably more like $200." dwatt33@hotmail.com
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Fall 2010
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