Connected again

Old friends and new friends meet at Lakeview Cottages all the time. Some of our guests have been visiting more than fifty years! Some guests agree to meet during the same week each year. I had an interesting re-connect happen this week.

Co-owners Mike & Maggie encouraged their secretary to spend a week at Lakeview. Erika couldn’t make it at the beginning of the week, so she invited her friend, Christina to use the cabin by herself. Right away, when she checked in, Christina knew that she knew George and me! About fifteen years ago we attended the same church! Then Christina realized she works with Peggy in Cabin G – they see each other every work day! And the nice folks in Cabin C took her fishing and became new friends. It happens like that each week, people find that they're friends.

I have enjoyed getting reacquainted with Christina, who is a delightful young woman. We even live near each other in Fresno! I’m enjoying having a new walking buddy here at the lake, and look forward to walking together in the neighborhood at home. You just never know who you’re going to meet.

Connected

Lakeview Cottages Resort has been working at rounding out our fleet of non-motorized watercraft. We started out with a row boat and a paddle boat, and a couple of owner families donated their canoes. We borrowed a kayak for a while which proved to be a lot of fun. Last year,I got a red kayak for my birthday, and of course, we brought it to the lake to share. We realized that with donating a lake going vessel came certain nameing rights. The kayaks became the "Susie Q," the "Cindy Lou," and the Maggie Mae." Our most recent addition is the kayak, "Annie Beth." I've been getting the stickers at Yellow Dog Graphics for branding our golf carts and boats. So now, the Annie Beth" is connected to the Lakeview Cottages fleet!

Lakeview Cottages has the best boat deal for our guests. For $30 your entire cabin can use our non-motorized boats any time, the entire week! Make sure you take your life jacket and have fun!

Getting Re-connected

I am happy to say that I (along with husband, George) am back at Lakeveiw Cottages for two weeks as managers and hosts. I had been taking a little "blogging break" since mid February. Congratulations Robin & Chris

Lakeview Cottages played a minor role in the wedding of Robin & Chris last weekend. Robin is the daughter of Lakeview co-owners, Don & Becky. Robin & Chris had spent many years working at Camp Keola and it was appropriate that their special ceremony be at Keola. Some wedding guests lodged at The Cottages, and the Lakeview fire ring was a great spot for gathering and visiting in the evening hours. The little trail between Keola and Lakeview was lit with solar lights and guided wedding participants between sites.

What was the Weather like Yesterday?

Lakeview Cottages is a summer resort. In the winter we shut off and drain the water and board up the cabins. The road is maintained only to Lakeshore. After that point, you're on your own. If you think you'll drive up from Big Creek, you'd better think again because the gate is locked across the road four miles from the lake. It's a long walk...up the hill...through deep snow...and slippery ice... Been there, done that!One of our camp guests (and friend of Mark & Cindy in Cabin G) was up at Huntington and was curious about what Lakeview Cottages looked like. The snow was too deep and soft so they could only get to the dam. Notice their mode of transportation! Now you see why, when you call "Lakeview Cottages" in the winter, you reach Susan in Fresno.Above is the island, from Dam # 3.

If you look closely between the trees, you will see the peak of a cabin roof. I'm not sure if it is a Lakeview Cottage or one of our neighbors.

In the summer, this dam is lined with fishermen & women! Our cottages are back in those trees.

These pictures make me want to go snowshoeing. When our children were small, we used to cross country ski the length of Huntington Lake, then up to Camp Keola. You need to be certain the lake is frozen over. A couple of times we skied around the lake by road. That is a lot longer and more hilly. The road is tough skiing because the snow mobiles leave washboard like tracks on the road.

Lakeview Cottages are a great destination in any weather!

What's the Weather Like Today?

Any of you familiar with Kindergarten, will recognize the title as a class room jingle, ending with, "Let's ask _____. " So today, let's ask: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?HNT This is where co-owner Brent goes to find out the latest weather at our favorite spot on earth. Well, at least it's my favorite spot - I hope it's other people's favorite spot. Speaking of weather, it's raining and cold outside. That's fabulous, because that means it's snowing at Huntington! When us Fresnans get a view of the surrounding Sierra Nevada, it's a great day! We've had a few of those days lately. The rain washes away the fog & smog and we get a view of beautiful white mountains! I can't wait to be up there!

Valentine for a fisherman

Happy Valentine's Day!

I wanted to get a really romantic Valentine for my special fisherman, so I decided to get him a new wedding ring (or three). I knew he wouldn't want chocolate. I thought his gift should fit inside his card. Herb Bauer's Sporting Goods was right on the way home, soooo....

I called George at work and asked him what kind of lure was good at Huntington Lake. I made up a story about a guest wanting the information. He suggested a "red wedding ring." Try saying that fast! The store expert showed me where the wedding rings were. The wedding rings all appeared to be white (diamond like). This was confusing! So I asked the helper for the RED wedding rings. He informed me that the ones with the red beads were the red ones. Ohhh!

See, the little ring of clear rhinestones is in the middle of that string of RED beads. The price was affordable, so I bought three. My fisherman is happy. And I know what kind of lure to recommend for trolling at our end of the lake!

Christmas Tree - Fisherman Style

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family! This has been a busy time of visiting with relatives and friends. Both daughters were in town, and with boyfriends, there was a revolving door of comings and goings! After retrieving some boxes from storage at another house, we did get some decorating done. Now that we've downsized houses (done before the girls returned home), we don't have room for the tall, large diameter tree of Christmasses past.

Our little tree gives us the opportunity to showcase ornaments representing George's favorite pasttime - fishing. Every Christmas we've given our favorite fisherman one or two ornaments. Soon he had enough for a small tree at his office. Now "his tree" has become "our tree" and graces our living room.
The red lantern is fitting with the outdoor theme. The garland has wooden beads with wooden bobbers regularly spaced. Do any of our Lakeview Cottages friends recognize this carved fish? This fish is the kind that are on our cabin key rings! You can get them at the Shaver Lake gift shop across from the hardware store.

One year, George asked for a fishing vest for Christmas. OK, I did get him the life size version! I am thinking that real flies and lures would make nice ornaments on our tree.

The fish on the hook in this ornament is about the size (when enlarged to full scale) of our average fish caught at Huntington!

The fish on the end of this line is "bearly" big enough to take out of the lake! Collecting fishing ornaments has been a fun effort for our whole family. Some friends have surprised us by finding the "perfect" ornament for George.

Was Santa really "born to fish?" Actually, I think the guy in the next photo was born to fish!

What were we born to do? This holiday season and closing to the old year give me a chance to reflect and consider my purpose in life. I think about the many gifts and blessings I've received. I think about how I am giving back. I ponder God's greatest gift and how the star leads us to Him. What were you born to do?