Never Waste A Day - My Beautiful Lake Is Gone

These pictures were taken recently in May and in June. This is the BEFORE. Scroll down and you will see what I saw just two weeks ago. Notice closely the beautiful water and the pier.  I was so shocked and surprised what I saw just two weeks ago.

The following are pictures of the AFTER. My beautiful lake was drained to enable construction of a new spillway. It will not be reopened until late 2015. So sad. 

All the water has been drained. Those are shopping carts and a trash can that must have been underwater.

There was about six feet of water in the lake.

I hope the fish and the turtles are OK.

I had not heard anything on the news or seen anything in the newspaper. One day I decided to go visit the lake and it was not there. This was the last thing I could have ever imagined would happen.

 For years, I didn't know the lake existed at all. After discovering the lake, in a nearby park, I was so happy to have a place to go calm my mind and spirit by being by the water.

Never waste a day. Never waste a moment to do what you love or go to a place you love going to. Things change. When I told my brother about the lake being drained and the pier was torn down, he said "It will never be the same." I think he might be right. I hope not. Maybe the lake and pier will be better than ever before. We shall see.

I miss going there already. I miss the interesting people who would go fishing there. Now I am on the hunt for another lake that has easy public access. I am so thankful I took all the pictures and video I did when I could.

It is so strange to think that something so huge as a lake could disappear. But it happened.

Whatever you want to do, go do it. Go do it now. You may be missing the only opportunity you have before it's gone.

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A Change Of Surroundings Has Changed Everything

 There was my life before I discovered a nearby lake and there is my life now - Everything has changed. Changes for the best to say the very least. A few days ago, I stumbled upon a lake in my city that I never knew about. As a result, I have been visiting this wonderful place everyday.

I am so much more at peace near water. The beach is my absolute favorite place to go but lakes have become a close second. There is something about being around water that soothes my soul and give me so much inspiration.

For much too long, I had been sitting inside my house wishing I could go somewhere and do exciting things. If you do not seek you will definitely not find. Riding my bike around town is what started everything. My goals was to save gas and get some much needed exercise but it quickly showed me a new way to get involved with the world. 

Get outside and get inspired. Do not wish for things. Make them happen.

Since I have been eating healthy and exercising, I feel better than I have in years. It is strange that I really didn't think of myself as an "outside person" but under the correct conditions, I really love it. Find what works for you. Find healthy food, exercises, etc that will result in a healthier lifestyle.

I love this front and center view of the lake. You have no idea how silly I felt after finding this lake after living in this town my entire life. To be honest, I have asked around and my relatives did not know about this lake either. Also a lot of people visit the lake say it is their first time. I am just glad I happened to look in the newspaper to find a new place to go for a walk/hike and saw the park's name. Do your research. Search out things to do. Go out and grab inspiration.

Today I painted a tiny watercolor of the lake scene, wrote in my journal, knitted a (maybe it will be an edging of a T -shirt or a strap for a small bag - I don't know yet) and ate a bit of fruit while enjoying my surroundings. I am so thankful I finally got out of my head and my house. My adventure begins.

Thanks for reading!

I Went For A Walk And Found A Hidden Lake

I went to a park to go for a walk/hike workout for my birthday. Everyday I try to get out of the house and have an adventure discovering something new. The last time I went to that park was several years ago. Yes it had lots of trees, a couple of playgrounds, tennis courts, and a softball field. I vaguely remember all of those things But where in the world did the HUGE beautiful lake come from? 

Honestly, I never saw this lake before in the past or ever heard anyone say "hey we're going to the lake in that park to hang out on the dock, go boating or fishing." It's incredible that I could have been visiting this amazing place all this time. I am so mad. Grrrrrrrrr  LOL!

Looking through the newspaper, doing research on new places to go for a walk or a hike is what gave me the idea to go to this nature park. Instead of going to park the car where I remembered parking last time I was there, I drove in a different direction. Got out walked a very short distance and just off the walking trail there was a large body of water - a lake. 

The last time I was on a deck like this was at Barefoot Landing at Myrtle Beach, SC. I was in heaven. The water was sparkling in the sunlight. Geese were honking at each other. A couple of people were fishing off the dock. Fishing is serious business. There was lots of concentration going on. I didn't see anyone catch anything. I am secretly happy for the fishes.

There is no doubt I will be visiting this lake several times a week. The paved walking trail is not very long in distance but it has some good hills that will be a great leg and butt workout. The nature trails are going to be awesome for quick but challenging workout hikes.

There was a guy walking the trail with an acoustic guitar. That gentle music he was strumming and looking at the trees and gentle waves of the lake made this birthday the BEST birthday I have ever had.  Loved it!

Later in the day, I watched a group of people playing tennis and some young girls having their tennis lessons. I have never watched a tennis game in real life before. Suddenly, I am really interested in learning how to play. One of the ladies was wearing a dark navy tennis tank top and tennis skirt. I want that outfit so bad! Goal: to get that outfit and look good in it. More motivation to exercise.

I am so excited to find this hidden jewel in my city. Being outside walking and hiking is a lot more fun than going to a gym. It's easy to stay motivated when I am surrounded by the beauty and peacefulness of the great outdoors.

Get outside and explore your surroundings. You never know what treasure you might find. Please enjoy my photos of the lake. Tell me what you think.

Thanks for reading!