Dallas Denny Day

Me, Performing at the Pine Lake Lounge

In December, Eva Sotus (who lives in he house just behind mine) asked if I would come to the Pine Lake Lounge event and sing my Pine Lake song. I said yes, of course.

So I arrived at the beach house at 7:30 pm with my guitar, suspecting nothing.

My turn came and I sang the song, then, by request, repeated it with everyone singing along from lyric sheets that had been printed up by Christine Slocomb.

After playing a second song of my own devising, I left the stage. Next up was mayor Kathie deNobriga, who had earlier that day told me I would not be allowed to leave Pine Lake because I had not turned in the proper paperwork. I half-way believed her.

So, Kathie started reading a proclamation. First, of course, came the whereases:

WHEREAS, the City of Pine Lake has been blessed with many talented residents; and

WHEREAS, each of these individuals contribute toward making Pine Lake the special place we call home; and  

Okay, I thought. Where is this going?

WHEREAS, one of our long-term residents who has tirelessly contributed their time and talents to the benefit of the City; and

I was starting to smell a rat.

WHEREAS, the works of this citizen are demonstrated by the beautiful pictures taken and posted for all to enjoy; and 

 Yes, I said to myself. I smell trouble coming.

WHEREAS, this citizen has served as the City Historian for many years.

Oh, good. I don't recall being appointed historian. For a minute there I thought...

Then came the therefore:

Now, therefore, in honor of the many contributions made, I, Kathie deNobriga, Mayor of Pine Lake, proclaim December 14th, 2014, as "Dallas Denny Day" in Pine Lake.

Dag! It was me after all!

To say I was astonished and gratified would be an understatement. A day named after little old me?

To top things off, my next door neighbor Barbara Whitlow produced a lovely departure cake. It was delicious and I ate three pieces. I hoped no one noticed the guest of honor pigging out.

Afterward, with my guitar slung over my shoulder and a lovely greeting card signed by half the city, I floated home.. I went immediately upstairs and phoned my fiancee to tell her the 14th had been declared a holiday.

She was already amazed I had sold my house so easily. "Your social network is amazing!" she had said. "What do you think of my network now?" I asked smugly.

My thanks go out to Mayor deNobriga, Barbara and Christine, Eva, Tommy Conlon (who talked about me when he read his amazing poem about the "right" side of the lake) and the many Pine Lakers who have wished me well over the past month.

My belongings are now all packed. My departure is linked to the closing date for the sale of my house, which should be announced shortly. I will miss my house, the lake, the city, and most of all, the wonderful people. I'm about to cry.

Preparing to Move

Before I left New York for Georgia I put word out on this blog and on the various Pine Lake lists that my house was for sale. By the time I arrived home a number of people had expressed an interest in it. The first couple that looked at it bought it. We expect to close on 15 January.

In the interim, I'm packing. Here's a stack of boxes in my office on the second floor. There are similar stacks in the living room, den, dining nook, and in my bedroom.

I favor the shown 1.5 cubic foot boxes. They're made of 100% recycled paper and cost $0.74 each at Home Depot. Loaded, they're light enough for me to move, and they stack readily.

Everything is not yet packed, but I'm around the bend and expect to be finished with packing by the end of the year. The last things to be prepped will be my waterbed (which breaks down nicely) and the vintage 1996 32" Sony Triniton CRT television in the living room. The TV is far too heavy to move and I have found a new home for it right here in Pine Lake. I bought it 18 years ago and it has never missed a beat, so I'm happy it won't wind up at Goodwill.

The waterbed mattress is due for replacement and will go in the trash. I'll order a new one. The bed itself breaks down. I love my waterbed. Twenty years ago I put a thermal cover on it and threw away the heater. The cover makes it look and feel like any mattress, and baffles in the mattress make it practically waveless. Best of all, there are twelve drawers in the pedestal.

I have an airbed which has never been out of the box for use after the waterbed is disassembled.

Lake House for Sale

In a couple of weeks my house at 522 Pine Drive in Pine Lake will be going up for sale.

It was built in 1936 and was expanded several times over the years. It sits on its original 20' x 100' lot. It is feet from the beach at the lake and the beach house. I can walk to the beach in thirty seconds!

I bought the house in 1998 and have lived in it since.  I love the house and is killing me to give it up, but necessity dictates.

I chose the house because of its charm, its proximity to the lake, its features, and its price. I also liked its solidity and reworked subfloors, plumbing and electrics.

I like its big rooms, open design, and roomy country kitchen. I lovingly renovated it, adding a large gazebo, back deck/landing, and fencing. Inside, I added a dishwasher, a lazy susan in a wasted cabinet in the kitchen, new appliances, and new flooring in the kitchen and bathroom and at the front door. I added a thousand other little touches.

The house is 1200 square feet in size. On the first floor is a living room, large kitchen with dining nook, bathroom, and a library/den. Upstairs there's a large room with a vaulted ceiling, a skylight, and large windows, and a large bedroom. I have the house set up as a single bedroom, but it could easily be converted to three bedrooms.

There's a large stone fireplace in the living room and a fireplace in the back room with gas logs.

I will be selling the house with a nearly new stove and refrigerator and washer and dryer.

When I bought the house I planned to install central heating and air, but it stays so warm in winter and so cool in the summer that I decided against it. I love the antique 73,000 BTU antique gas furnace, which I kept when the guy at the gas stove store told me the new stoves would be no cheaper to operate and would be a lot slower to heat the house when it was cold. A big 220 volt air conditioner at the top of the stairs keeps the house absolutely frigid. A 110-volt A/C unit in the dining nook serves as for backup cooling. I turn it on now and again to keep it working properly.

The house's immediate needs are flashing on the back side and a new roof for the stone lean-to tool shed at the back of the house. The roof is worn, but doesn't leak. The carpet is worn but serviceable, Otherwise the house is great. I have loved living in it and loved hearing people tell me how much they like it.

If you're interest in purchasing it, please let me know. The asking price is $85,000, going to increase a few thousand if I have to hire a realtor.

Then and Now 3

Claude Suttle took this photo in October, 1963. The lot in the foreground is I.B. Melton's former property.

Here's the house in center shot as it looks today. Hmmm-- maybe it's a different house.

Then and Now (Again)

This photo has 522 Hemlock written on it. The vehicle parked beside it dates it to the 1940s.

Here's the lot today.

The granite curb stone is still there, but it seems unlikely it's the same house.

Then and Now

The above photo was taken by Claude Suttle in the 1960s.

Here's the same house today-- virtually unchanged outside except for the color of the siding.

Sleepy Summer Midday

Canoe Colony

Western Wetlands, Mid-Morning

Poopwatching

When I walked around the lake a couple of weeks ago I saw more dog poop than I had ever seen in Pine Lake. Here are some appetizing examples.

C'mon, folks! Help me keep this blog poo-free! Carry a baggie!

Beach House is Legal!

Mayor Kathie DeNobriga has announced the beach house has been approved for use by county authorities.

The most noticeable change outside is the screened-in area in the back is much larger than it used to be.

Summer Flowers

Anyone know what these are?