July is a rewarding month for us.  We have juried into two online shows with "summer" being the subject. 

The 6th Street Studios and Art Center show in Gilroy, California has a theme of "Lazy Days of Summer." 

Our two images accepted are "Italian Ice Cream"  and "Dog-tired Blanco."

In keeping with the summer theme, we will celebrate and enjoy some ice cream.  It all began in 1984 when President Ronald Regan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream Day on July 16th. It is a favored dessert by Americans.  We consume almost 7 billion dollars of ice cream annually.  It means we eat 23 gallons a year, the most ice cream per year than anywhere else in the world.

Ice cream is believed to have started in Iran's Achaemenid Europe around 500 BC.  In 400C the Persians created a special chilled food, a mixture of vermicelli and rose water that was served to the Royals during the summer.  The ice was mixed with fruits, saffron, and other flavors.  Currently, Bastani Sonnati is the most popular kind of Persian ice cream. It is made from pistachios, vanilla, saffron, rose water, sugar, eggs, and milk. It can also have frozen flakes of clotted cream inside.

Many countries have claimed that modern ice cream was their invention.  However, it was most likely invented by the Chinese during the 7th century.  Culinary folks give credit to Antonio Latini in Naples, Italy who created a milk-based sorbet.  The Quaker colonists brought their ice cream recipes to the United States and opened the first ice cream shops in New York and other cities during the colonial era.

Ben Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson loved ice cream.  In 1813 First Lady Dolley Madison served ice cream at the inaugural ball.  In 1832 African-American confectioner Augustus Jackson created multiple recipes and a superior technique to manufacture ice cream.  Philadelphian Nancy Johnson received the first patent for a hand-cranked ice cream freezer in 1843.  In 1920, the first ice cream trucks were put on the road by Harry Burt.

​​​​​​​Thomas Jefferson's recipe for Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream is believed to be the oldest recipe for ice cream in the USA.  It can be found in the Library of Congress.  Almost 10% of all milk produced by the United States Dairy farmers is used in the production of Ice cream.  Sunday is the day of the week on which people consume the most ice cream and is believed to be the etymology of the word "sundae".  

So go have some ice cream....it's ice cream o'clock! 

— Dog-tired Blanco was photographed at Hotel Sol y Luna
in the Sacred Valley of the Incas near Urubamba, Peru.

The KBM Art Gallery LLC in Riverside, California has an online exhibition titled The Dog Days of Summer. Our "Dog-Tired Blanco", seen at left, was juried into their July 2023 exhibition. 

These images are available in tabletop to wall size, triple matted, and with or without a frame.  The matted versions are yours at a 10% discount and the framed-matted versions in sizes 11 x 14 and larger can be yours at a 15% discount.

Visit our website, www.throughthelensoflee-margaret.com for available sizes and prices.

Stop by and see us on Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The gallery is open for arranged Saturday appointments.  Call us at 904-387-8710 to schedule your special visit.  Come see us and order now.

Warning!  Ice cream makes your clothes shrink!