Horseshoe Bend Lakehouse

The pandemic put a hold on our plans to build our little dream lakehouse at HSB, but we haven't stopped dreaming nor have we stopped planning.

A big part of the pleasure of building is being able to consult with people like, well, the builder and to shop for things like flooring and windows and paint and granite.  

With all this time afforded by social distancing, we've modified our original ideas into something much more suitable and more personal.

We took the giant leap to clear the lot for the house and drive.  Shocked initially by all that was taken away, we've embraced it and think we made good choices.  A few images of the clearing . . .

The equipment was unexpectedly huge so a huge swath was left everywhere it went.  I definitely was not prepared, but it had to be done.  Otherwise we could not bring a car, set up a tent and leave every tree in place.

We've come up with what we think is a great little floor plan for a simple and cozy yet beautiful cabin.  Here is our inspiration . . .

How beautiful is that?  Called Cabin Noir, it's located in Birmingham, Alabama.  We really love everything about it and hope to incorporate many of the ideas from this truly lovely lakehouse into ours.

Social Media

 As I was reading through my new blog books, I read a post I did on facebook more than 10 years ago.  I never joined facebook or any other social media platform.  Not then or now.  I email and text, but that's the extent of my media socializing.  

We recently watched three good documentaries on the subject - "Snowden", "The Social Dilemma", and "Spycraft".  Worth watching in my opinion.  It definitely confirmed how much I don't know about the internet.  

I've said many times, then and now, the internet will be the death of us.

In that post of 2010, I mentioned that facebook had 400 million users (about 6% of the population) and today that number has ballooned to 2.7 billion (about 69% of the population).  I was happy then to be in that 94% and happier to be in the 31%. 

Back 10 years ago, users spent about 45 minutes a day on social media and today that's jumped to nearly 2 and a half hours a day.  Which is the reason I never got on it to begin with.  I know how addiction works.  And I also know my head from a hole in the ground which can't be said for some who believe anything they read. 

Of course today about 90% of the world has access to the internet where in 2010 that was more like 30%.  Wow.  No wonder social media has taken over.  Access and ignorance seem to go hand in hand.  

Well, it's certainly proved to be disturbing in many ways and dangerous in even more.  I won't be logging on to any social media platform, but I am falling further into that percentage who don't and I am absolutely fine with that.

"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."  -George Carlin

A Year to Remember . . . and to Forget

A year like no other is now ended. So far, we as a family, have made it. Unscathed and healthy. I was much of a recluse before the pandemic struck and like my friend Barry said . . . he was social distancing before it was required. Me too. 

I do miss the family times we most definitely took for granted. We took the "stay at home" recommendation seriously. We stayed home. We took the "social distancing" recommendation seriously. We social distanced. We took the "wear a mask" recommendation seriously. We wore a mask. And we're still doing every one of those today. 

A vaccine is here and in record time for vaccines. Thank goodness and Moderna and Pfizer. While we won't be at the top of any list to receive it, we will receive it. And until we do, we will continue to do all those things listed above. No amount of risk is worth it. 

In addition to Covid-19, another sad event left a void in our family. JimA, Josh's Dad, passed away on November 4. We've known he and DebB for 20 years now and shared so many good times. We will miss him very much. He was a good man. So talented too. Our get-togethers just won't be the same. 

About that same time we had a presidential election and much to our relief we have a new one. Despite not winning a second term, the old one has done more damage to our society than even I thought possible. I, and several million others, predicted he'd do just what he did. I look back at my blog post on the sad day four years ago and it's almost prophetic.

But there have been many good things this year including all of us remaining in good health.  I could not be more grateful.

And speaking of grateful . . . not too long ago was my birthday.  I turned 60 and while I often feel very much age 60, I could be in much worse shape!  

Ross sent this beautiful bouquet and I enjoyed it all week!

Then we chatted with the kids in celebration :)

This amazing set of books is a concerted effort with Randi handling the bulk of it.  

And no doubt it was quite a job!  

It's a printed version of my blog!  Absolutely amazing.  I've already read through 2009 and 2010 and most of 2011.  I can hardly believe it's all about us. Thank you, all of you, for a wonderful birthday!

As much as I love Christmas, I decided to forego the usual decorations and put up just a little tinsel tree.  It's festive enough for now and perhaps all my old decorations may feel like new again next year.  

We celebrated the holiday with gumbo on the patio with Ross and a chat with Randi and family to unwrap gifts.  The weather was actually quite nice!

Randi.  So clever.