Homes 2014 • www.LakeWedoweeLife.com • Free
Homes 2014 Vol. 7 No. 3
Table of Contents Special Features 15. News to Know Early ER Diagnosis Saves 30year-old’s Life 18. News to Know Things to Consider When Buying on the Lake 20. Renting Your Lake Home Lake Living on a Short Term Basis 24. Buying Your Lake Home Great Water at Affordable Prices 28. Buying Your Lake Home Seclude, Stylish at the Lake 32. Buying Your Lake Home Fabulous View and Convenience, Too 36. Buying Your Lake Home Escape to Your Secret Garden on the Lake 40. Buying Your Lake Home Enjoy Southern Charm on Lake Wedowee 44. Buying Your Lake Home Easy Living on Lake Wedowee 48. Buying Your Lake Home Making Dreams Come True on the Lake
In This Issue 8. Letter from the Editor 10. Lake Wedowee At a Glance 13. Lake Wedowee on Instagram 16. Charley’s Treasure 50. Movie Review 52. What’s Cooking 56. Adventures with Young Papa 57. Lake Wedowee Fishing Report 58. Where in the World is Lake Wedowee Life?
contributors this issue Noah Bryant Ballard, Jackson Bonner, Lavoy Caldwell Leisel Caldwell, Tracy Carpenter, Charley Norton, Andy Petty
On the Cover Ava Ann celebrated her third birthday at the end of May. She is the daughter of Ashley Walker and both are full time residents of Lake Wedowee. She enjoyed her homemade popsicle by TracyCakes. To see the recipe, go to page 52.
General Manager LEISEL CALDWELL info@lakewedoweelife.com
Editor KELLY CALDWELL news@lakewedoweelife.com
Advertising Sales LAVOY CALDWELL ads@lakewedoweelife.com
Advertising Sales ALICIA HERNÁNDEZ ads@lakewedoweelife.com
Intern NOAH BRYANT BALLARD
Lake Wedowee Life 877.959.LAKE (5253) 18285 Highway 431 Wedowee, AL
www.LakeWedoweeLife.com Lake Wedowee Life magazine is published four times a year and available around the Lake Wedowee area which includes Randolph and Clay Counties in Alabama as well as parts of West Georgia. All content in this publication is protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise published without the prior written permission of Neighborhood Publishing. © 2008-2014 Neighborhood Publishing 6 lake wedowee life
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Summer Time… And the Lake Living is Easy I do believe lake season is my favorite time of year, even more than college football season (just don’t tell my dad). This is when our community comes alive with things to do and people to see. Every weekend from May to September, if the sun is shining, you can bet there will be people on the lake, in the stores, and on the roads… visitors, part-timers and full timers alike. We all enjoy Lake Wedowee, but to me, it’s more than water, boats and sunshine. The lake life is special and I am extremely grateful for what Lake Wedowee has given me since I moved back to the area in 2005. Lake Wedowee has given me friends that are like family, a community that supports my family in all that we do, and a place that I am proud to call home. This year has been extremely challenging for my family for a variety of reasons, but the community support continues to inspire me. We constantly hear stories of how we have been uplifted, supported and in some cases defended. Unfortunately, I know that we will never be able to repay all of the acts of kindness, but we do our best to continue to pay it forward. This year has also made me realize that everyone has struggles and a simple act of kindness can mean more in that one instance than you may ever know. So I challenge our Lake Wedowee Life readers to do more! Living on the lake is a gift and we should all be paying it forward. Random acts of kindness are much more fun and fulfilling than the alternative. Take a moment to think of the other person and what they might be going through. It could be something simple or it could be something major. Either way, showing kindness to my knowledge has never hurt anyone and I am sure we would all appreciate a little more kindness in our lives!
Enjoy Life Kelly Caldwell
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Summer Of Fun To get more information about upcoming events visit Facebook.com/lakewedoweelife June 2-6 Kids Kollege Southern Union State Community College Wadley STARS Camp The Historic Ashland Theatre Ashland June 7 Summer on Main Downtown Roanoke Randolph County Sheriffs Reserve Buddy Bass Tournament HWY 48 Boat Ramp June 14 Art on the Median Downtown Wedowee LWPOA Summer Picnic
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Rice Pavilion Lake Wedowee Tournament Trail HWY 48 Boat Ramp June 25-26 Fine Arts Camp Southern Union State Community College Wadley July 3 Summer Sizzle presents Patriotic Night Lineville City Park July 4 Lake Wedowee Boat Parade Under the Pines at Lakeside July 4-5 Randolph County Sheriff’s Rodeo Highway 431 North above Wedowee Building Supplies July 10 Summer Sizzle Presents
Kevin Moon Lineville City Park July 17 Summer Sizzle presents Jazz Night Lineville City Park July 19 Lake Wedowee Tournament Trail HWY 48 Boat Ramp July 24 Summer Sizzle presents The Gospel Hour—Clay County Style Lineville City Park July 31 Summer Sizzle presents Country, Gospel & Bluegrass sponsored by Alabama 100.7 Lineville City Park
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Instagram is a fun and quirky way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures. The following photos were tagged #Wedowee or #LakeWedowee and are used with the consent of the photograph owner. Download the free app today & join in the fun!
Jon Wetzel @joncwetzel
Cameron Jackson @cameronpjackson
Britanny Busby Chumney @Brittany_chumney
Kimberly Burks @kimberlykburks
Kanaan Hammett @kanaan89
Lauren Clifton @laurenmclifton
Kalie Calhoun @kaliecalhoun
Zach Crumpler @zachc113
Mason Turner @masonturner21 lake wedowee life 13
Brenda Grant @brendagrant1
Abigail Alvis @abigailalvis
Kayla Hall @kaylahall1080
Erika Brookes @ejbrookes
Darrin Harvey @darrin_lharv
Haley Grant @hlgau
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Early ER Diagnosis Saves 30-year-old’s Life It is “just the flu”. Like me, I am sure you have said this many times over the years when you or someone in your family has gotten sick with the flu. Well our experience this past winter has taught us the flu can turn into so much more than “just the flu”. The flu attacked my thirty year old daughter, Mary Lee Caldwell with a vengeance. What started out as the flu, progressed to pneumonia and then ARDS, Acute respiratory distress syndrome. If it were not for the Wedowee Hospital and Dr. Krone the ER doctor on call the afternoon of January 3, 2014 I am not sure if our story would have had a happy ending. It became very apparent that Mary Lee was very sick when the clinic called for an ambulance to take her to Wedowee Hospital. Her oxygen level was at 56 percent. After checking her out and getting chest X-rays, Dr. Krone recognized the severity of her condition. He then got on the phone and pleaded her case to be transferred to a larger regional hospital. We remember over hearing Dr. Krone saying “she is going to get worse and we don’t have the resources here”. This was a wake up moment for all of us as it was no longer “just the flu”. Thanks to Wedowee Hospital, Dr. Krone and the ER staff Mary Lee was transferred by ambulance that night to a larger regional hospital. Our story did not stop there as Mary Lee got a lot worse in just a few days. On Monday she was put in ICU and put on a ventilator. On Wednesday night she was air-
flighted to UAB Medical Center and placed in MICU. She was at UAB for four weeks, most of the time in a coma. There are many people responsible for Mary Lee surviving this ordeal but without a doubt Wedowee Hospital played an important role in her being with us today.
News to Know by Leisel Caldwell & Noah Bryant Ballad
Quick Response in ER Saves Cofield’s life In October 2013, Chip Cofield suffered a heart attack. He began feeling pains at the Wedowee Landscape shop and rushed himself to the emergency room at Wedowee Hospital. Immediately, staff began running tests and administering nitroglycerin. Because of their quick response, he was soon stabilized for
transfer to Regional Medical Center in Anniston. According to Cofield, the doctors and nurses at Wedowee Hospital saved his life. “I might not be here today if I had to drive all the way to Anniston,” he said. “They really did help me in Wedowee.” His doctors agreed at Regional Medical Center, telling Cofield that the ER in Wedowee did a great job and was the first step in saving his life. Minutes often mean the difference between life and death in emergency situations. With services in Anniston nearly an hour away, Cofield certainly benefited from the proximity and convenience of Wedowee Hospital. Nine months later, he’s feeling much better. At his latest follow-up appointment, he received a clean bill of health and just needs to keep taking his medications. The Wedowee Hospital is a vital resource for the local community, Cofield believes. He is deeply grateful for the care and attention he received there. Moreover, he would like to thank everyone who helped him during his experience, especially Angie Loveless and her staff. Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of stories in Lake Wedowee Life dedicated to sharing the impact a small town hospital has on its community. The individuals have shared their stories with Lake Wedowee Life and were not contacted by Wedowee Hospital or any of its employees. If you want to share your story with our readers please contact us by email at lake wedowee life 15
Remembering The Plywood Palace I’m just sitting here on the tailgate of my truck with the lake in full view. I just put a coat of sealer on the porch of the house I’m working on, so I have some time to kill and enjoy such a beautiful day. Across the lake lies a giant house, recently finished with most of the standard traits of a highend home and even a few extras like stucco and a clay roof. It makes me wonder about the different types of residences here on the water. I would say there are basically three. First, you have houses built to be homes – functional, comfortable and accessible. Second, there are the ones built to entertain, with adequate lodging, open floor plans and outdoor amenities. Third, are the ones closest to my heart – the “plywood palaces” – mainly there as a place to sleep, eat and go to the bathroom while you enjoy the rest of your time outside and on the water. There aren’t many of these palaces going up anymore, but that was pretty much all there was when I was a kid. Back then you could buy lakefront property for nearly nothing. I knew people that paid for theirs with the timber they cut off of it. Houses were thrown together with new and used lumber and filled with furniture and appliances bought second hand. As families grew bigger, so did the houses, adding a room here and there and another log for more folks to sit by the fire. Times are different now, and I think it’s sad in a way. Even in this devalued market, it’s still too expensive to buy a lot and just throw something up. But, you’ll still find
a few of these plywood palaces if you look for them. One of those is home to all my early memories of Lake Wedowee. Although there’s a fine house built beside it now, that plywood palace owned by my Big Daddy and Aunt Sylvia still remains. As a teenager, I remember standing at the bottom of the soon-to-be-filled lake, looking up at a boat dock jutting from the hill side and wondering how the heck Big Daddy Warren could possibly know where the lake would fill to. But, he did. When the
Charley’s Treasures by Charley Norton water finally came up, it stopped just inches below the decking. That still amazes me to this day. We owned the lake back then. It was odd if we saw more than 7 or 8 boats out there on a Saturday, but those sparse numbers didn’t mean it wasn’t hazardous on the water. Logs were everywhere. Everything the power company didn’t get out came floating to the top and you had to be on your game to avoid
them. With that said, the safest place to be on the lake was in a boat driven by Ed Warren. He and Aunt Sylvia were and still are a big part of many of our (all my childhood friends) happy childhood. All of which revolved around that plywood palace made in haste with walls of screen wire and a floor covered in sleeping bags. We ate something between two pieces of bread for lunch and something from the grill for supper. The crickets sang us to sleep and the morning chill woke us up. We played cards at night and horseshoes during the day. The rest of the time we were either in or on the water. There weren’t any TV’s or telephones, only music from a little radio. It was the definition of a getaway and some of the best times of my life. Another plywood palace found on the lake is that of Smith and Mark Pass. Built years ago by a previous owner, these two lucky people have kept the theme of the house. They even call it the “Plywood Palace,” and you’ll see a sign proudly displayed as you enter the driveway in declaration. The Pass’ house is filled with memories. Everywhere you look are the things collected over the years from places and times that good memories were made, and the pictures on the walls capture those memories. It’s not a fancy house, but functional, made to be enjoyed more than admired. To Smith and Mark, I’d like to say thank you, for carrying on the going, but not gone, tradition of the Plywood Palace. When you see some beat up jet skis tied to your
dock, don’t worry, it’ll be me. And to Big Daddy and Aunt Sylvia, I’d like to say thank you for being a significant part of teaching me what is really important in life. Charley Norton is the co-owner of Norton’s Flooring with his brother Tom. The company was founded by his parents more than 35 years ago. Picture by Cameron Pass Jackson of her parents lake home.
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Things to Consider When Buying on the Lake . Do your research. Check out listings online. This bit of homework will give you a good idea of going prices and what you should expect to pay for lots and lake homes in specific subdivisions and/or areas of the lake. 2. Give considerable thought on how you will be using the property. Do you want a simple weekend geta-way with little upkeep? Do you want a large home with room for plenty of people? Are you considering renting the property? Give your real estate agent as many details as possible. 3. Find a real estate agent who is experienced and knowledgeable about the Lake Wedowee market. Lake property has different characteristics to consider than traditional homes and land. The average agent does not normally have this detailed knowledge. Choosing the right agent can save you time, effort and aggravation in finding the right lake property for the right price. 4. Don't buy without setting foot on the property first. You should take the time to look it over closely and inspect it yourself. If possible, locate a copy of the site plan to determine exactly where the property lines are. If not, make obtaining and approving a survey a condition of the purchase contract.
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5. Look into loans early. There have been many changes in the mortgage market in the last several years. You should start the process before you look at property because it can take a lot longer than a normal home loan. Also, when the time comes to make an offer, being preapproved will strengthen your negotiating position with the seller. 6. Understand Lake Wedowee’s water level changes. Lake We-
erty, such as adding a dock or a seawall, you will need to contact Alabama Power Shoreline for guidelines and procedures to verify what you can do and getting the proper permits. 9. Check out road access and utility connections. If the property is remote, make sure you know who is responsible for maintaining the road. Many banks require a Road Maintenance Agreement before they will lend on remote property. If you're planning on building, do not assume that you will have access to by Leisel Caldwell & electricity, water, sewage and other utilities. Make sure you will have dowee’s water level changes in the access to these services. winter months and with severe 10. When you make the purchase drought. This can make a difference offer, be sure it is conditional on a in your access to the water and your satisfactory home inspection and/or view in winter months. Water level an inspection of the land. For examand water view also affect pricing. ple, if you don't have access to sewNormal summer pool level is 793’ age lines, make the offer conditional mean sea level and the normal win- on your ability to obtain permits for ter pool level is 785”. a septic system. Plus, you should 7. Check on lot size requirements. always make your offer contingent If building, make sure the lot you're on your ability to obtain financing. looking at will support a house of the size you want. 8. Find out what you can do with Leisel Caldwell is the broker for the property. Get a copy of the ReBama Homes and Land Realty. She strictive Covenants for the subdivihas been a licensed real estate agent sion or development to know what since 1978 and was one of the first is allowed. If you want to make to do so on Lake Wedowee. changes to your waterfront prop-
News to Know
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Lake Living on a Short Term Basis If you are not ready to buy your dream home, there are still ways to enjoy a Lake Wedowee getaway. Ron Young, broker of Wedowee Lake and Lands Realty, also handles vacation rentals for the Lake Wedowee area. "It started because some of our past clients wanted the service, but didn't have the time or resources to do it themselves," he said. "So my wife, Donna, and I started Wedowee Shoreline Rentals." Currently, there are eight properties the Youngs manage including M and D's Lakehouse on Rosie Hill Lane. "It really works for this couple because they live in Alaska 20 lake wedowee life
Renting Your Lake Home by Kelly Caldwell during the summer and here during the winter," Ron said. "We take care of their property when they aren't here and make a little money for them at the same time."
The rental home features five bedrooms and can comfortably sleep 14 people. It has an open floor plan that allows for great entertaining opportunities. The home is near Foster's Bridge on the Tallapoosa River and is convenient to gas on the water. During lake season, it rents for $225 a night or $1,350 a week. There is a $300 security deposit and a $135 cleaning fee. Off season rates are available on Young’s rental website. For more information, visit www.wedoweeshorelinerentals. com or call Young at 334.885.1787.
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Great Water at Affordable Prices Sunset Point isn’t just another subdivision on Lake Wedowee. It’s one of the most affordable and inclusive communities on the water. “Sunset Point is an entry-level community, perfect for anyone who loves the water,” said resident and agent with Bama Homes and Land, Kelly Caldwell.
Buying Your Lake Home by Noah Bryant Ballard Developed in 2004, the subdivision features 1,100 feet of shoreline and 33 waterfront and off-water lots located next to the Lonnie White Bridge Boat Launch. Park Model homes and small cabins line quaint streets, fostering a community atmosphere unique to the neighborhood. More than 20 property owners call Sunset Point home. It’s not uncommon to see children playing together, and families often gather at the community pavilion. “We like to say it’s the best money for the best water on Lake 24 lake wedowee life
Wedowee,” said Leisel, broker with Bama Homes and Land. Currently, homes in Sunset Point are priced from $67,000 to $137,000. Lots are priced as low as $12,000,
including a prime waterfront lot listed for $89,000. For more information, visit www.bamahomesandland.com or call 877.9595253.
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Secluded, Stylish at the Lake Located on the south end, this two bedroom, two bath home is a fabulous find on Lake Wedowee. “This is a great home for people that want to enjoy the south end of the lake without the hassle of major maintenance,� Ron Young, broker with Wedowee Lake and Lands said.
Buying Your Lake Home by Kelly Caldwell The home built in 2003 features hardwood floors throughout with additional upgrades that make it truly unique. The dining room flows into the living area and is separated by columns and a beautiful stone fireplace. The bedrooms are oversized with each having its own bathroom. 28 lake wedowee life
The open kitchen features a breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances and lots of counter space. The kitchen also has an oversized pantry. The outdoor space is very inviting and beautifully landscaped. There is a large deck off the house and then a patio at ground level complete with a fire pit. The walk to the lake is a terraced with pavers and minimal steps. At lake
level, there is a covered private dock with boat slip. This home is in the Lane Branch subdivision on Lake Wedowee and is priced at $329,000. It is 2,514 square feet and has a two car garage. For more information regarding this property, please visit www.wedoweelakeandlands.com or call Young at 334.885.1787.
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Fabulous View and Convenience, Too Convenient to town and located on year round water with fantastic views of the lake, The Bluffs really does have it all, says Ron Young, broker with Wedowee Lake and Lands Realty. "It's perfect for year round living."
Buying Your Lake Home by Kelly Caldwell Built in 2006, this 3,000 square foot craftsman-style lake home features four bedrooms and three and half baths. With the sun deck and covered lower patio, lake living is easy. The outdoor area is beautifully landscaped with native plants and features a covered dock, gazebo at the lake level, a personal wa32 lake wedowee life
tercraft port and a hot tub. The interior of the home is beautifully finished with an open floor plan that features a stacked stone fireplace and woodpaneled cathedral ceiling. The kitchen has custom cabinets and granite countertops. Upstairs, there is a bonus room and a loft overlooking the lake, which is ideal for an office with a beautiful view. Downstairs, in the finished basement, is a game room or den along with another stacked stone fireplace. The home also has a garage The home is priced at $459,000 and is located on Cobblestone Drive in The Bluffs, which is less than five minutes from town. For more information, visit www.wedoweelakeandlands.com or call Ron Young at 334.885.1787.
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Escape to Your Secret Garden on the Lake Like a secret garden with close to 500 feet of shoreline situated on 1.44 acres, this property offers seclusion on the lake. "This home is truly unique, " said Linda Stone with RE/MAX Lakefront. Built in 2000, it features five bedrooms spanning three levels. But thanks to one of the few elevators in a private home on Lake Wedowee, access isn't an issue. The bedrooms are king-sized according to Stone, and plenty of built-in cabinets provide ample storage. by Kelly Caldwell "These cabinets are really special. They are custom made, full height The home has panoramic views and with extra depth," she said. of Lake Wedowee that can be en-
Buying Your Lake Home
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joyed from a glass enclosed sunroom, wraparound porch and open sundeck on the main level or a large screened porch off the basement. There is also a golf cart path to the water's edge that features a stationary dock and two-slip boathouse. A breezeway also connects the home to a oversized two-car garage with guest quarters above. The home is priced at $475,000. For more information, visit www.lakewedoweeleaders.com or call Linda Stone at 256.363.2025
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Enjoy Southern Charm on Lake Wedowee This four bedroom, three bath custom-built home in Springwater Cove subdivision is the epitome of Southern Charm. From its raised garden beds to the native plants along the lakeside, this home is a nature lover's paradise. "You really could find this house in the pages of a magazine," said Sherrie Norton with Wedowee Lake and Lands Realty. "It has so much to offer, while still having room to make it your own." The home features an open floor plan with one bedroom on the main level and two more upstairs. by Kelly Caldwell "One of the really cool things about this house is the custom clos- thing in most lake houses." ets and built-in cabinets," Terry NorIn addition to the family area on ton said. "You don't find that kind of the main level, the home also has an
Buying Your Lake Home
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inviting screenedin porch. The basement has an additional family living area, wet bar and bedroom. The outside features a patio with a fire pit and grilling area. There is also a golf cart path to the water for easier access. Once at lake level, you find a covered floating dock with a personal watercraft port and boat lift. This home is nestled in a fantastic cove with 181 feet of deep year round water. The property is priced at $499,000 and some of the furnishings are negotiable. For more information, contact Terry or Sherrie Norton at Wedowee Lake and Lands. Their website is www.bhammls.com/terrynorton or you may reach them by phone at 404.317.5120.
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Easy Living on Lake Wedowee Stunning views of Lake Wedowee greet you from nearly every room of this spacious home in Crescent Crest subdivision. Built in 2003 by Kenneth Adamson, it is perfect for year round living and is situated on 450 feet of year round water. "The views from this house are simply breathtaking," said Gene Crouch of Keller Williams Realty Group. "You can see the lake from most every room and the details are fantastic."
Buying Your Lake Home by Kelly Caldwell Along with five bedrooms and three and half baths, the home also features abundant storage thanks to an oversized two-car garage with an upstairs apartment. "The owners actually got the builders to finish the garage first and they lived there will the house was being built," Crouch said. Given the owners' eye for detail, this home has a unique char44 lake wedowee life
acter. "All of the vanities in the bathrooms have been converted from old furniture pieces," Crouch said. The kitchen features custom built cabinets, granite countertops, a gas cook top, two ovens and a warming drawer. Moreover, there is a formal dining room and a screened-in porch off the great room. The lakeside offers panoramic views of the water, and the land-
scaping has been well maintained with knockout roses lining the back of the home. The lot is virtually flat and with no steps to the water. This lake home in Crescent Crest is priced at $549,000. Crescent Crest is an Alabama Power Company leased lot subdivision. For more information, please visit Crouch's website, www.wedoweelakehomes.com or call 770.315.8726
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Making Dreams Come True on the Lake This home in Hunter Bend could be your dreams come true. Built by Charles Thompson Construction in 2005, no detail was too small. The 5,300 square foot home has down home charm with all the upgrades. "This home really has it all," said Gene Crouch with Keller Williams Realty. "It is beautifully built and while spacious, it has that warmth you look for in a home."
Buying Your Lake Home by Kelly Caldwell The master bedroom is on the main level, which is perfect for year round living, and accompanies four other bedrooms as well as five and a half baths. "There are so many cool things about this house but the attention to details really impresses me," Crouch said. The home has a formal dining room along with an eat-in kitchen and an outdoor dining area on the screened-in sleeping porch. Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances finish out the kitchen. Upstairs, there are oversized bedrooms, including the "girls room" that has eight beds. "The owners have three daughters who all like to bring friends," Crouch said. "This house can sleep 22 people, but it is spacious enough you can find your individual space when you want." In the basement, the entertaining opportunities
continue with the game room, bar area and a second bunk room. The game room opens to the patio with beautiful views of Lake Wedowee. "Being on the south end of the lake, this lot is on a really deep cove," Crouch said, "It has the wide open water, but being in the cove like this, you have more privacy." Closer to the water, there is a sun deck and natural landscaping complemented by stained concrete walkways. Moreover, the property features an impressive dock complete with a 6,000 pound boat lift. This lake home in Hunter Bend Phase III is priced at $789,900. For more information, please visit Crouch's website, www.wedoweelakehomes.com or call 770.315.8726.
Movies to Honor Your Father As Father's Day approaches, we all have our personal stories to share about our fathers. Many have stories of them being best friends, others have tales of being extraordinary heroes. Further, some have journeys of discovering who their fathers were. I lost my dad from a car accident when I was just a freshman in high school. What would my dad's life on celluloid be like if I were to write a script about him? Maybe that story is made up piece by piece in films, weaving together the universal connection we all share to our fathers. Here are some titles that I would love to share. "Life As A House" - For architect George Monroe (played flawlessly by the great Kevin Kline), losing his job means it's time to make things right with everyone -- starting with his teenage son, Sam (Hayden Christensen). Unfortunately, Sam wants nothing to do with his father and has built a hatred for him so strong that he's turned to drugs, prostitution and bribery to fill his empty life. George's neighbors hate him as well because he lives in a dump shack beside their beautiful homes in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the area. So, he’s made his teenage son stay with him for the summer while they build a house that George can be proud to leave his son. However, picking up the pieces to a life he’s abandoned for his job of 20 years isn't an easy task. His ex-wife has moved on but still loves the man she once knew, and rekindling their son's relationship means more complications between the two of them. Throughout the summer they learn the importance of family and how precious time really is, especially after George is diagnosed with cancer. It's always hard losing a parent, but what if that parent hadn't been a part of your life until the moment
Entertainment by Andy Petty they are in the last days of their life? Featuring an amazing cast with Mary Steenburgen, Jena Malone and Kristin Scott Thomas, and an original soundtrack from the band Guster, director Irwin Winkler’s drama of forgiveness and family bonds touches my heart every time I see it. “Frequency” - What would a film be like if you combine a story like “Back To The Future” with a crime saga such as “Seven” and mix in a little “Field Of Dreams”? Well, “Frequency” does just that. For a film that feels like three well-loved films combined in to one, it comes off as the most original and daring piece of film making of the early 2000’s. What happens when a son in present day decides to use his deceased father’s Ham Radio for old time's sake? A communication 30 years in the past, or future (however you look at it), is what happens. What would it be like to hold a conversation with your father as an adult and knowing he’s been gone most of your life? If you knew your firefighting dad died too soon in a warehouse fire and you were speaking to him before his premature death, wouldn't you warn him of his impending doom? Most of us would and can relate to doing just
that, but are we thinking of the ripple effect it could have on life as we know it? It’s a natural thing to think of, “what if” or “how about,” like your's truly has experienced. Although my dad died 3 years prior to this film's release date, it speaks volumes to me. Starring Dennis Quaid as Frank Sullivan and his son, John Sullivan, played by Jim Caviezel, this is an amazing film to seek out for the first time or even a second viewing. It’s hard to believe it’s been 14 years since its release, but I highly recommend this genre-bending masterpiece. “The Road” - Although we've seen the world end by a disease (World War Z) or climate change (2012) or even war (How I Live Now), the truth is there are a million ways to end life as we know it. The intrigue here is that we’re not really sure why life has been interrupted in the film “The Road” by writer Cormac McCarthy. What we do know however, is that a father and son have been thrust into an ultimate quest for survival. How do you teach your son what it’s like to survive in a brutal, unflinching world where threats and predators seemingly abound? It's an adventure as father and son try to survive at all cost. Starring Viggo Mortensen (The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy) as the father and Kodi Smit-McPhee (the voice of "Para-Norman" & will be seen next in “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”) are our two leads that must endure the ravaged land. Shot in various locations across the country including scenes from the devastated remnants of Hurricane Katrina, "The Road" is a bleak glimpse at what could happen after society collapses. Most memorable quote from the father to the son: "If I were God, I would have made the world just so and no different. And, so I have you... I have you.”
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I have an extensive and irrational love for popsicles — frozen deliciousness on a stick. I love ‘em and I don’t care who knows. No matter the time of year, I so often find myself craving a good popsicle. Growing up in hot Florida summers, some of my best memories are eating popsicles with my family. I remember making them with kool-aid as a kid. We would freeze orange juice in ice trays, cover them with foil, insert toothpicks, and enjoy. Today you can buy popsicle molds in all shapes and sizes, Further, flavor possibilities are only as limited as your imagination. I had so much fun making the popsicles featured in this article I felt like my kitchen was a playground. Let the kids join the fun! They love to help make them almost as
Let’s Get Cookin’ by Tracy Carpenter much as they like to eat them. As the summer heats up, I hope these recipes will help bring out the kid in you again. So, crack out those molds and enjoy sweet, frozen goodness all summer long.
Rainbow Popsicles Light colored pudding mix 5 different food colors milk Prepare your pudding according to directions on package. You may want to add a little more milk to make it pourable. Divide pudding mixture into 5 small bowls, adding about 1/2 cup to each. Add a couple of drops of food coloring to each bowl and mix well. I used a gel food dye for vivid colors. You can now spoon the pudding mix-
ture into the molds. I put the mixture into five different pastry bags and filled the molds that way. If you don’t have pastry bags you can use a ziplock bag and cut the corner out. After each color is added, tap mold on counter to remove air bubbles. Cover with foil and insert sticks and freeze for about 8 hours. Run mold under hot water to loosen the popsicle.
Tooty-Fruity Popsicles 1-8 oz can crushed pineapples 1-15 oz peaches in light syrup
1-15 oz pears in light syrup 6 strawberries, sliced 1 kiwi, peeled and sliced 2 Tablespoons Tang 1/2 package of a small box of vanilla pudding mix Drain the canned fruit into a bowl and save the juice. Liquefy the pineapples, peaches and pears in a food processor and mix together in a medium bowl. Add the pudding mix and Tang to the juice you drained from the fruit. Mix well and add to the liquefied fruit and mix well again. Pour a little into the mold and place a kiwi against the side of the mold. Then pour a little more of the fruit lake wedowee life 53
mixture over the kiwi and slide a strawberry against the side of the mold. Finally, finish filling the mold up with the fruit mixture. Cover with foil and insert sticks and freeze for about 6-8 hours. Run hot water over mold to release popsicle. You can also liquefy the strawberries and kiwi if you wish. Adding blueberries would be yummy, too!
Strawberry Lemon Basil Popsicles 6 medium to large lemons 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons sugar ( more if you like really sweet lemon aid) 2 cups water 6-8 strawberries, mashed 1-2 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped Combine the chopped basil and mashed strawberries together and set aside. Squeeze the juice from the lemons. Make lemonade by adding sugar and water to the lemon juice and mixing until the sugar has dissolved completely. Spoon 1 Tablespoon of the mashed strawberries and basil into to the mold. You can add more if you’d like. Pour the lemonade into the molds. Cover with foil and insert sticks and freeze for about 5-7 hours. Note: The strawberries will float to the top, so I put the popsicles in the freezer for about an hour and take a wooden skewer to push them down some.
Key Lime Popsicles 1-1/8 cup water 3/4 cup sugar (use more if you don’t like tart desserts!) 1 to 1-1/2 cans sweetened condensed milk 1-1/2 cups key lime juice 1 tsp. lime zest Mix water and sugar together until the sugar has dissolved. This may take some time. You may want to mix it a while, let it sit a while and stir again until
it’s all dissolved. Add the sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice and zest. Mix well. Pour into the molds. Cover with foil and freeze for about 5-7 hours and under to water to release from the mold.
Banana Pudding Popsicles 1 small box instant banana pudding milk 2 ripe bananas several crushed Nilla Wafers Prepare your pudding according to directions on package. You may want to add a little more milk to make it pourable. (I added about 1/3 c to 1/2 c extra.) Mash one of the bananas and add it to the pudding mix. Chop the other into chunks and add them to the mixture. You can use as many bananas as your heart desires. Add crushed Nilla Wafers and spoon them into the mold. Gently tap the mold on the counter to get rid of any air bubbles, and insert the handles that came with the molds or cover with foil and insert a craft stick or tongue depressor. Freeze for about 5 to 7 hours. Run the mold under hot water to loosen pop-
sicle from the mold, and make sure the popsicle has fully released or you will leave half of the popsicle in the mold. Another recipe I like is to take frozen strawberries in syrup. Thaw them, puree’ them, pour them into the molds, freeze them. Then dip them into magic shell chocolate for chocolate covered strawberry popsicles(you may want to add a little water if the mixture is too sweet for you. You can test taste the mixtures as you are making them to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. (I call this quality control.) Are you craving them yet?
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Sweet Fun in the Summertime Sun Sweet Fun in the Summertime Summertime was a wonderful time of the year for Young Papa. I lived within an easy bike ride of two grandmothers and one greatgrandmother’s houses, so I was blessed with a thousand-and-one culinary delights growing up. As soon as I escaped school for another summer and finished my chores, I was foot-loose and fancy free enjoy the sweet and glorious bounties of my grandmothers’ kitchens. From Granny Delia’s fried apple pies to Mom Bonnie’s “Lady Baltimore” layer cake to MawMaw’s homemade strawberry ice cream, I can still taste all three. Of course, I don’t have a clue as to the proper recipe for any of them. A typical day would start with me completing any chores that MaMa and Daddy had left for me; then I was off on the bicycle to Granny Delia’s house for some fried pies. Granny would gather up the apples and Miss Pearl Hall would sit with us on the porch peeling and cutting the harvest. Granny never drove, but she was cool and always had her ’55 Chevy
parked out back. We would then spread the apple slices out on the shelf behind the back seat of that car. Once dehydrated, they would be stored in a cotton pillowcase hanging in the pantry closet. We had them fried apple pies all year long ‘cause my great-grandfather
Adventures with Young Papa by Lavoy Caldwell W.P. Burson was an amateur horticulturist with one apple tree that produced three different types… we started in early June with ripe apples and had them right on through October. Later, I was off to Mom Bonnie’s for cakes and other baked fixins (my favorite was her “Lady Baltimore” which was a white layer cake with raisins, coconut and some sort of yellow icing). On other days, I’d head to MawMaw’s. Her strawberry ice cream was always a delight, especially if she had made teacakes to add.
However, if Uncle Junior had made a trip to Atlanta there was no telling what there might be to eat. Uncle Junior was a “truck-farmer.” He would make trips to the farmer’s market in Atlanta and return with a load of watermelons, cantaloupes and other things not locally available at the time. We always waited until the peaches were ripe in Clanton. Wow! -- those “Chilton County Peaches” were just as special back in the day as they are now. They were the key ingredient in absolute greatest “Sweet Fun in the Summer Time” delicacy of all time: Miss Jeanette’s Fresh Peach Ice Cream. Mama made that ice cream ice with our own churn, covered with ice and salt and slow turned until the handle could no longer be turned. I can still remember how sweet and creamy that ice cream was… Oh, my – I wish I had some right now. More of the “Adventures with Young PaPa” will be coming in future issues, I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy remembering times gone by and writing about growing up in Alabama back in the ‘60’s……Papa
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Lake Wedowee Fishing Report for June By Jackson Bonner The past month of fishing on Lake Wedowee continued to produce large stringers with several tournaments taking over 30 lbs. to claim a victory. While most of the fish have finished their annual spawning routines, there are still a few stragglers that remain in the shallows. Those giant stringers I mentioned earlier were a direct result of those remaining shallow prespawn fish. However, as the post-spawn begins consumes the entire lake, the fish will begin their annual trek to their deep water holes. A great way to catch these post-spawn fish is to throw a deep diving crankbait on points that run out to touch the river channel. Also, steeper banks where the river channel runs close to the bank can produce great results for targeting postspawn fish. The shad spawn is also taking place and can be a blast at daybreak. Throwing smaller poppers and double willow spinnerbaits would be my first choice when targeting the fish pursuing the shad spawn. As the day heats up and the morning bite winds down, try moving to an area with plenty of boat docks under which you can skip a small worm. If that is not your forte try moving to a steeper bank under the shade of low-hanging trees and throwing a deep crankbait or worm. To go along with that, I must also mention that June means night fishing on Wedowee is about to heat up. There is an abundance of techniques to fishing Wedowee after the sun goes down. Many choose to fish lighted boat piers, while others choose to fish the bank with crankbaits and spinnerbaits, especially on moonlit nights. That’s all for now. Until next time, good luck and good fishing.
(Clockwise from Top) Billy Smith and Ron Martinez, Billy and Jeanette’s son in law and guide, took a moment with Lake Wedowee Life magazine while ice fishing for Rainbow Trout on Cavan Lake near Medicine Hat, Alberta Canada this winter. Tony and Connie Yawn brought Lake Wedowee Life magazine to Calabasas, California with granddaughters Liberty and Charleston. Mary and Frank Rasbury with Lake Wedowee Life magazine at the Alamo in San Antonio Texas. If you travel, be sure to take Lake Wedowee Life along with you. Take a picture at a landmark and send it back to us at news@lakewedoweelife.com. Please be sure to tell us where you are and who is with you!! Thanks and Happy Travels!
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