Mentone Area Arts Council supports another art show and workshop

Mentone Area Arts Council (MAAC) Members are conducting February
Shows and Workshops

Color in February: A One Woman Art Show

In November 2011, MAAC member Debbie "Happy" Cohen made a commitment to post one painting on Facebook every day for a year. On Thursday, February 23rd, Happy will display her current work beginning at 6:30 PM at Rock Ridge Retreat in Valley Head, Alabama. Rock Ridge Retreat is located at 451 Rock Ridge Road (off Lowery Road). Enjoy 50 colorful paintings and live music with Kam Showers from Atlanta, GA who will lift your heart and soul.

For more information, please call 404-395-9512 or visit www.artinthemind.com.

Learn the Art of Massage in Mentone

On Saturday, February 25th, MAAC member Kerry Breithaupt will conduct a basic massage workshop from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM Central Time. Kerry is a licensed Massage Therapist and conducts seminars and massage therapy workshops all over the country. No experience is necessary and only light physical exertion is needed. For further information or to register for the workshop, contact Kerry at 256-254-9802 or email her at kerryblmt@gmail.com.

MAAC is an active member of the Mentone community bringing us home tours, art shows and workshops. From their website, the Mentone Area Arts Council states their purpose as: We believe the arts are for everyone, beginning with our children and continuing throughout our lifetimes. We promote big dreams in a small town, nurturing artists, building audiences and bringing the arts to the community and the community to the arts. Our goal is to encourage individual creativity and to broaden community participation, appreciation and support for the visual, performing, and literary arts in the Mentone Area.

Founded in 2006, The Mentone Area Arts Council (MAAC) is a non-profit tax exempt organization that has enriched the quality of life for people in Mentone and neighboring communities by raising funds for the arts, sponsoring events, providing educational opportunities, and strengthening cultural resources for the benefit of all businesses and citizens in the Mentone area.

The Mentone Area Arts Council will be hosting at least two art shows this summer. The first will be June 2 and 3rd called the Lookout Mountain Art Expo. Then near Fourth of July, MAAC will host the July Fest 2012 on July 7th and 8th.

Thank you for all of your work MAAC!

For the Love of Dogs at Mountain Laurel Inn!

Golden Retrievers have been a part of Mountain Laurel Inn B&B in Mentone since it opened back in 1996 with the arrival of Baxter followed by Lickety-Split and now Sammie. Goldens are social, love lots of attention and are easily trained so being a host at a bed and breakfast is a natural calling. What a rewarding career that allows them to utilize their motherly instinct. Read more about these special B&B guest ambassadors at our updated website page Best B&B Greeters in Alabama. Come to Mentone and Mountain Laurel Inn and let Sammie demonstrate her hospitality soon.

Can you name these other famous Golden Retrievers?
1. From Bush’s baked beans TV commercial
2. From the movie Air Bud
3. From the movie Homeward Bound
4. From the TV show Full House
5. The pet of former President Gerald Ford
Answers at end of blog

Fun and interesting facts for dog lovers found on http://www.funfidos.com/

The ones that Sammie gave three barks for are:

• The world’s smartest dogs are thought to be (1) the border collie, (2) the poodle, and (3) the golden retriever.



• The ten most popular dogs (AKC, 2007) are in order:Labrador Retriever, Yorkshire Terrier, German Shepherd,Golden Retriever, Beagle, Boxer, Dachshund, Poodle,Shih Tzu, and Bulldog.



• Most pet owners (94 percent) say their pet makes them smile more than once a day.
  Seventy percent of people sign their pet’s name on greeting cards and 58 percent include their pets in family and holiday portraits, according to a survey done by the American Animal Hospital Association.

Additional facts found on the site:

• Eighty percent of dog owners buy their dog a present for holidays and birthdays. More than half of them sign letters and cards from themselves and their pets.



• A dog’s heart beats between 70 and 120 times a minute, compared with a human heart which beats 70 to 80 times a minute.



• The longest lived dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was an Australian Cattle Dog, named Bluey, who lived to be 29.



• It is a myth that dogs are color blind. They can actually see in color, just not as vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.



• If never spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their puppies could produce over 66,000 dogs in 6 years!



• The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads.



• Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine (similar to caffeine) which can kill dogs or at the very least make them violently ill.



• More than 1 in 3 American families own a dog.



• Dogs don’t like rain because the sound is amplified and hurts their very sensitive ears.




• A greyhound can run as fast as 45 miles an hour.



• Small dogs live the longest. Toy breeds live up to 16 years or more. Larger dogs average is 7 - 12 years.


• The dog name “Fido” is from Latin and means “fidelity.”



• The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world.



• Dogs are mentioned 14 times in the Bible.



• It has been established that people who own pets live longer, have less stress, and have fewer heart attacks.



• A dog’s whiskers are touch-sensitive hairs called vibrissae. They are found on the muzzle, above the eyes and below the jaws, and can actually sense tiny changes in airflow.



• Dogs can smell about 1,000 times better than humans. While humans have 5 million smell-detecting cells, dogs have more than 220 million. The part of the brain that interprets smell is also four times larger in dogs than in humans.
  
  Answers: 1. Duke 2. Buddy 3. Shadow 4. Comet 5. Liberty

Mountain Laurel Inn is loving February in Mentone

Mentone and Mountain Laurel Inn Bed and Breakfast have been shining this month with romantic moonlit nights, bright yellow daffodils, high flowing waterfalls and several mentions in the news concerning our Valentine’s packages on Lookout Mountain that create a special retreat for sweethearts.


On Sunday, Sarah demonstrated on Birmingham’s Fox 6 WRBC how to cook Mountain Laurel Inn’s Decadent French Toast highlighting the romantic events this February in our area.




Here are some ways to be a romantic this holiday:

For Romance and Relaxation:

Mountain Laurel Inn B&B continues to promote it’s “I Love You” package all year long with roses, flutes and sparkling cider, a personal note card, chocolates and a candle that can be included with any type of stay.

Mentone Inn is offering all month it’s two night package called “Inn Love” which includes the B&B stay, roses and chocolate covered strawberries.

Holiday Inn Express in Fort Payne will treat you with their Canyon Romance Package offering rose petals and sparkling beverages and encouraging you to experience the delights of Little River Canyon and our great outdoors.

For Dining:

The Historic Mentone Springs Hotel will open it’s doors on Saturday, February 11th for a special five course dinner prepared by guest chef, Jason and accompanied by entertainment from Lisa Crow and Jay Chadwick. Enjoy the ambience of one of the oldest hotels in Alabama.

DeSoto State Park’s Mountain Inn Restaurant is offering a “Sweetheart Special” on Friday and Saturday February 10th and 11th from 5 to 8 p.m.

Wildflower Café in Mentone will celebrate Valentine’s with special menus and hours from February 9th until February 14th. Don’t miss the wonderful creations of Chef Ben and the lively atmosphere of the Café with live music.

Moonlight Bistro is also a great choice for a romantic dinner at the crossroads of Mentone on Friday or Saturday evening with the intimate seating in a wonderful log cabin setting.

The Mountain Restaurant and Grille in Rainsville is having a Valentine Special on February 14th featuring your choice of Prime Rib or Broiled Red Snapper with soft music, candle light, and a rose for every lady!

A trip to Lookout Mountain Alabama will give sweethearts lots of opportunities for romantic walks on trails, time alone enjoying the thunder and beauty of waterfalls, relaxation in wonderful accommodations, spectacular dining and unique shopping.
DeKalb County Tourist Association has information on all that is offered in our area including these special Valentine’s package. Anytime of year is a great opportunity to show your love.

Sammie and Sarah hope to see you at Mountain Laurel Inn soon and will help guests with any dinner reservations