Life On The Lake

It's been almost 7 years since we bought this house on the lake. We hadn't really thought we would ever be able to afford a "lake house" because typically property on the lake is really expensive. So when we happened on this one that was a moderate price we were thrilled. It's not a new house...it was built in 1975 and added on to in 1992 and while it was "move in ready" it needed a lot of care. Some of it we've done and some of it we haven't. Time and money are definitely factors with money being the key. It is smaller than I really wanted and has little storage space. Over time it's done what all houses do in this part of the country - it has settled. That means that there are small gaps in windows and doors; they're too small to see but in the winter you can feel them. The carpet needs to be replaced and minor flaws need to be "beautified." Now after saying all that I want to add that we love this house. :) It has a large open living space, it's on the back side of a square so there's not a lot of traffic, there are lots and lots of big old trees that shade the whole yard, and it's on the lake.

One of my favorite features of the house is the fact that the kitchen has a very large window that looks out on the lake, and two of the bedrooms have three very tall windows that also face the lake. There's a sense of peace here that makes you take a deep breath and relax. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is to open the blinds so I can see the water, watch the sun come up and hear the birds. It's an incredible way to start the day. I get my drink, settle back in bed and do my morning devotions as I drink in the peace.

However, there is a downside to living on a lake too. It's a small one but definitely annoying. Thankfully we have a deep back yard so it's a good way down to the water and to our dock. I say thankfully because fishermen/women believe that any part of a lake is free for them to fish...and my husband tells me this is true. That includes all down our sea wall as well as under and around our dock. Frequently I look out to see these folks looking back in! It's pretty far out and I'm fairly certain that they can't really see me, or at least not the details. Which is a good thing because if I'm getting dressed or exiting the bathroom after a shower I can tell you they don't really want to see the details. When it happens I stomp around and fuss out loud because I think it's rude to go right up to someone's dock and fish under it. I suppose it's human nature to be curious so I'm not surprised that sometimes they aren't watching their fishing pole but are perusing the house. But it makes me uncomfortable.

I'm very careful to have the blinds closed when night approaches because I know you can see into a home that's lit. But in the daytime, how would you feel if you looked up to see someone on the sidewalk outside looking in? Short of keeping my blinds closed all the time I don't see a solution and I sure don't plan to leave the lake any time soon. What do you think?

Beauty and Confusion

Last night as I was preparing dinner this was my view outside my kitchen window. I am constantly amazed by the work God does. If the colors are this beautiful here can you even imagine what they will be like in Heaven? I can't but I like to think about that. I bet there are colors we've never dreamed of and birds that are so dazzling we couldn't take it in if they were here. I bet the music is so incredible that we will simply stand in awe and that the mansion He has prepared for us is more beautiful than any castle we've ever read about.

I went to my back door to capture the moment from there and obviously I'm not a photographer but doesn't the peace just sort of surround you and make you feel like you're in His arms?

On the other hand, this creation that God designed has gotten a little confused. Either that or she is on a different calendar than me. Christmas is over. But you can't tell it by her! She has just now begun to bloom for the season and she is stunning sitting there under my bedroom window. So in honor of her confusion I decided to finish a Christmas wallhanging. :)

The Christmas Cat is a panel I've had for several years and just never took the time to work on. I wanted to begin/practice a little machine quilting so I decided to do this "primitive". I paid no attention to the items on the quilt, like the tree and the packages, except in a general way. I "sort of" quilted around each ornament and package and the tree but didn't care if I stayed in the lines or not - kind of like when I was five years old and coloring. :) It gave me a chance to get a feel for the loosey-goosey feel of having the feed dogs down and gave me some practice time. It was a fun thing to do.

Memories

My favorite memories of our Fourth of July celebration here on the lake:

1. Children sitting in the rising mist of the lake at dusk watching fireworks.

2. 7 year old granddaughter being chased by her cousins in a game of Tag and yelling, "Help! Call Security!"

3. Redheaded 10 year old boy wearing a red and white striped shirt with blue plaid shorts because they were the closest things at hand and what do you mean stripes don't go with plaids?

4. 10 year old girl carrying her teddy bear and her camo blanket to bed with her.

5. 2 1/2 year old boy offering to show his fishing minnows and worms to 2 year old girl - his grandmother gently explains that girls don't really like to look at minnows and worms - he has a blank expression on his face and says, "Why?"

6. 7 year old granddaughter announcing loudly, "I'm hungry and I don't want anything starting with a G or gumbo!"

7. 10 year old boy (while on his maybe 12th Ice Pop) saying to his mother, "Mr. Jerry told me he really needed my help getting these out of his freezer."

8. 2 1/2 year old boy on being told not to pick up the June Bug he's holding in his hand, "But I like holding bugs."

9. 2 year old girl watching fireworks from a looooong way away and saying over and over (but not looking away), "I scared, I scared."