Feb/March 2013 From The Editor

It is said that the way you spend your New Year's Eve is indicative of what the New Year will bring.  If that is true I may require an intervention this year.  I spent my New Year's watching hours on end of Rehab Addict on DIY TV.  The star of the show, Nicole Curtis, is my idol.  I want to grow up to be just like her.

You're probably thinking "what a loser...nothing better to do on New Year's Eve."  I would have gone out.  I had opportunities.  What I didn't have was  a car.  A teenage son with a driver's license, a far-away girlfriend and no car of his own translated to being housebound.  It's his fault.  He's an enabler.

Deep breath... I am ready to confess.  "I am a rehab addict."  There, I said it.

And as a rehab addict this is the creed I live by.  Repeat after me if you, too, are ready to admit your compulsions.

The Twelve Steps of Rehab Addicts Everywhere
1. We are powerless over our desire to rehab.
2. We know a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity, but why?
3. We have decided to devote our lives to Lake and Home Magazine, DIY, HGTV and other media sources of similar nature.
4. We will commit to taking inventory to find what needs t be fixed or remodeled.
5. We will admit to ourselves and the staff of Home Depot the exact nature of our shortcomings in do-it-yourself.
6. We are entirely ready to educate ourselves on such things as grouting, taping, and tiling.
7. We will humbly review our budgets to accomplish it.
8. We will create a list of changes we hope to make.
9. We will make plans to improve wherever possible, except when doing so threatens to put us in the poor house.
10. We will continue to review said list and amend as necessary.
11. Through intense study we will improve our knowledge and strive for the courage to carry those plans out.
12. Having had an awakening of sorts as the result of the above steps, I personally will do my best to carry this message to readers everywhere.

That last one was for me.

My New Year's resolution is to find a rustic cabin on a lake.  "Rustic" is a code word for falling apart and within my budget.  With Lake and Home Magazine at my side, I will make it a showplace!

Contributing editor Sheri Davich lives in Pequot Lakes, MN.

Dec/Jan 2013 Issue is out!

We are excited to announce that the Dec/Jan 2013 issue of Lake and Home Magazine is out.  If you are not a subscriber, pick up your copy or order it online soon so you don't miss any of the great articles we have this issue.  Like always, we are featuring two amazing homes.  One is a Tuscan inspired sanctuary with an emphasis on serenity and the other is a dream home that was years in the making.  We also have must read articles if you are contemplating building new or remodeling your existing home or cabin, organizing your closet or looking to add a stylish fireplaces.

From The Editor Oct/Nov 2012

There is so much I love in this issue of Lake and Home Magazine, I don't know what to share first.  There is an article on kitchen lighting with some fabulous lighting options, a few energy efficient articles, a wonderful column by Emily King on her never changing family cabin with it's outdated decor and 4 year old magazines, and of course our normal featured homes, designer Q & A and landscaping tips. but it seems like the logical progression to start at the beginning, so, here it is.  An excerpt from the editors article, by Sheri Davich.  Enjoy. 

An after-dinner walk recently brought me to a little white church converted to an antique store just off our Main Street.  The store was closed, but it was the yard that drew me across the road anyways.  The fence could barely contain what was within.  I could see clusters of grapes on an arbor, berry bushes, corn, squash, a variety of flowers.  My companion and I poked our noses through the chain link, trying to get a better glimpse.  A posted sign proclaimed this garden belonged to someone called "The Loon Ranger."  While we were naming those plants we recognized, a woman's face appeared at the window, and she stepped outside.  My inclination was to take my friend's hand and urge him along, not wanting to impose.

What followed is why I love my place and my people.  In some communities the residents would draw the blinds, let the dog out and hold their breath until you pass on by.  Where I live they drop whatever they are doing, unlock the gate and spend the next three hours of their precious time giving you a guided tour.  The fence is intended to keep out critters, not neighbors.

To read more about Sheri's exploration into "The Loon Ranger's" garden, pick up this issue of Lake and Home Magazine. Trust me.  You won't be disappointed.

Saying Goodbye to Summer

Swimming on Lake Belle Taine

The air is cooling off, kids are going back to school, leaves are changing colors.  All signs that the long, slow days of summer are giving way to the brisk mornings of fall.  No need to be sad.  There are plenty of wonderful activities to do in the fall.  You can take a leisurely walk in the woods and enjoy the crunching sound of leaves beneath your feet, breath in the earthy smell in the air and feel the cool nip of the air all without swatting away the pesky mosquitoes and deer flies that are ever present in the summer.  Or, you can stop by an apple orchard and pick some crisp apples to munch on or bake into fabulous pies. 

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to think back over everything we did in the last few months.  My husband and I do not currently own a lake home, and while we do plan on having on in the future, right now, we are enjoying the generality of our friends and loving it.  This way, it becomes more of a social event for everyone.  Instead of focusing on the little chores that need to be done, everyone pulls up a patio chair, a refreshing beverage and enjoys the afternoon.  Instead of mowing the lawn or weeding the flower bed, everyone hops on the pontoon to go across the lake for some ice cream.  As I think back, these are some of my favorite memories of the summer.  When we didn’t have a grand plan, just wanted to hang out with some friends in a beautiful location and let the day take us where it may.  So for all of you lucky enough to have a piece of paradise, invite people often, keep it casual and relax.    

Meet Our Team: Erin

Have you ever wondered who is behind your favorite magazine?  No.  Hmm, well, we thought you would be more interested, so we are going to introduce some of our key players so you can get to know the people behind the magazine.  We'll start out with one of our newest members, Erin Hintz.  Erin just joined us at the end of August and will be mainly focused on our website, www.lakeandhomeweb.com.  Here is a little about Erin.

I grew up and went to school in Fergus Falls, MN, and have always lived in Fergus, but I’ve moved 13 times as my parents built houses. Now that my husband and I have our own home, I think sometimes he wishes I wouldn’t have inherited such an eagerness for construction and remodeling. Working on our home projects is probably my favorite hobby but I also love to garden and spending time with my family is definitely at the top of my list. My brother plays high school football, and watching that has become one of my favorite fall activities.  My husband and I also have two cats, Leo and Kilo and a dog named Benny.

What is your favorite lake to spend time on?
My family has a lake place on the Wall Lake and I love getting to spend time with them there. We really enjoy the sandbars and it’s been great to have lake access just a few minutes from home.

What is your favorite lake activity?
As long as I’m on the water I’m happy. I love jet skiing and boating, I don’t do a whole lot of skiing or tubing but I love watching.

What is your favorite season at the lake?

Without a doubt summer is my favorite season to be at the lakes. You won’t often hear me say it’s too warm.

What is the best food on a hot summer day?
I think barbeques and burgers are classic summer meals.  I love fresh veggies and fruits too.

Best Lake Memory?
The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays, as well as some of my best lake memories. I love the fireworks over the lake, and there’s nothing better than getting together with family to celebrate and spend the day on the lake. The whole lake atmosphere on the forth is hard to beat.

What grown up job did you want when you were younger?
What I was going to be when I grew up changed daily.

What is the worst flavor ice cream?
I’m pretty sure I’ve never had ice cream I didn’t like!

What was your first job?

When I was fifteen and sixteen I had a summer job working for my aunt and uncle at their horse farm doing maintenance things like pulling weeds in the gardens, doing horse chores, mowing and weed whacking, etc. I’ve always loved horses so I was in my element just being around them.

Remodeling project on the horizon?

It’s the time of year people start looking at the calendar and asking where the time has gone. As the snow melted last spring, big plans of home improvement projects that would take place over the summer were made. But the call of the lake was just too strong to ignore, and the to-do list was pushed aside for a day on the water. Now that cooler weather is once again around the corner, we are asking ourselves what projects we are going to squeeze in this year. As you scale back your projects, make sure you have a realistic idea of everything that will be involved in it so you are not caught off guard by the "Ripple Effect" and "Project Creep." Not sure what we mean? Check out this great article to familiarize yourself with the terms and hopefully be more prepared as you tackle you to-do list. Or, you could just put it off until next summer and enjoy a few more afternoon naps.


http://homes.yahoo.com/news/beware-the-remodeling-demons-that-await-homeowners.html

Countdown to Labor Day

As Labor Day approaches, also known as the unofficial end of summer, people start looking back and wondering where the time went. Soon will be gone the long, lazy days on the water, where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to a quieter, slower pace. Before we know it, it will be time to break out the fall sweaters, swap out the lawnmower for the snowblower and start cooking comfort food instead of indulging in fresh fruits and vegetables right from the garden. Please don't stop reading because you don't want to think about these things yet! My point is, with Labor Day being two weeks away, we need to take a step back and really try to enjoy these last two weeks of summer. So, for the next two weeks, check our facebook page for your daily summer bucket list task. For the next 14 days, we'll be posting an activity to help you make a few more memories to last you until next summer. Try to really enjoy each activity. Some of them may sound childish, but that's kind of the point.  Let’s escape our grown up lives for a few minutes and enjoy the simple things, surrounded by people we love and a landscape we are lucky to be able to enjoy.  Trust us, you will not regret it.