Spring Fever

Spent the day Saturday at Apple Canyon Lake.  In the morning I attended a meeting held by the committee that oversees all the construction applications and permits.  While getting out of my car before the meeting I heard the call of a loon on the lake.  I believe in destiny and that loon was calling to welcome me to the lake just like the ones in the movie “On Golden Pond”. 

Even though we can’t “officially” apply for a permit with the association until we secure the permits from the county I wanted to take the opportunity to meet some of the committee members and show them our plans.

It was a good strategy.  Not only did I meet some nice people but they pointed out a couple of items I needed to take care of before applying.  I was concerned that since they only meet monthly that we would have to wait another month to get a permit but they were satisfied with what I presented and told me we could start anytime as long as I took care of the items they requested. 

One of the biggest items was the absence of an egress window in the basement.  Since we were not planning on finishing it I didn’t think we needed one but we do regardless.  Denise told me she thought we had to have one so she had an “I told you so” moment when I got home and told her!

  

I had a couple of hours to kill after the meeting waiting for the excavator to meet me to tentatively lay out the location of the foundation on the lot so I did a little exploring. 

I drove over to the golf course clubhouse and had a diet coke with the guy running things there.  The building is only a few years old, has a big screen TV over the bar, and just a great place to grab a sandwich or a drink.

 Golf Course Club House, Bar and Grill

Walked down to the Marina and watched an excited new boat owner launch his new boat for the first time.  He wasn't planning to fish but just to take a ride and get to know his new ride!

Marina with Security Office and Store

Then took a ride to Scales Mound, the nearest small town (about 5 minutes away), and found a nice little grocery store and had a great hamburger at the Chatterbox Tavern.

The Chatterbox Tavern in Scales Mound

I did some exploring of the property around our lot.  I met our new next door neighbors.  A very nice couple that spend about 50% of their time at their lake house.  He informed me the rear of our lots was one of the main deer trails which was confirmed about 5 minutes later when 6 deer ran by me as I was walking. 

It was a nice sunny day, about 50 degrees, but VERY windy.  I made a discovery behind our property that really excites me.  Through the first line of evergreens that border the rear of our lot is the hiking / ATV trail that encompasses the lake then (2) more rows of evergreens (see picture below).  Behind all of this is a gordeous little field that is a common area surrounded by trees.  Kind of a little meadow in the midst of the trees and evergreens.  Probably the size of a couple of football fields.  A great place for the dogs to run or to have a picnic on sunny windy days.  Because of the dense surrounding trees it was absolutely calm in the little meadow.  I just sat there for a while soaking up the sunshine and dreaming of the day when our little project would be complete.

Evergreens Lining Rear of Our Lot with Hiking / ATV Trail 

Tree Lined Meadow Behind our Lot