Weekend Wrap-Up // Version 07.24.18 // Summer at Deep Creek Lake

Over 60 years ago, my Great-Grandfather spent about $5,000 and bought a piece of property (with a small “shack” on it) on Penn Point Road, in Maryland, on Deep Creek Lake.

I never met my Great-Grandfather. I’ve heard lots of stories about him though – he was a photographer! He owned and operated a studio inside of his home, complete with a darkroom in the basement. He photographed weddings & did portraits in his studio. In fact, many of his images still hang in my Grandparent’s house (images of my Dad & Uncle as a little boy and of my Grandparents as a young couple), his sign stating “Jim Flude Photography” hangs in their garage.

I love to think about my Great-Grandfather and the entrepreneur that he was. No social media to keep up with, no blog, no website, nothing digital – he would take a portrait in black & white and then he & my Great-Grandmother would paint in colors down in the darkroom during the developing process. It’s just fascinating.

I also love to think that he knew he needed a place to get away. To relax, refresh, and recharge. A place to leave his business behind and not let it overtake his life (he might not have had all the hubbub we have today, but I’m sure the dangers of letting your business overtake your life 24/7 were still there)! And so when the opportunity arose to buy property on Deep Creek Lake in Maryland, just a 2-hour drive from home, he took it! And here we are – Braelynn & our new baby make 5 generations who have loved the Lake House!

I know so many of my friends & family don’t understand the Lake House. It’s kind of a tough concept to explain to people – to so many, my family goes on “vacation” every single weekend from April thru October. But it’s so much more than that. It’s our legacy. And for my Grandparents (who were also small-business owners & entrepreneurs), it was a place to “escape” from the business. To my Parents and Aunt & Uncle (who are also small-business owners & entrepreneurs), it’s a place to “escape” from the business. To me & my sisters (3 of which are small-business owners & entrepreneurs), it’s a place to “escape” from the business.

And if you don’t own a small business, it’s again hard to explain. It’s not that we don’t love our businesses – we all thoroughly enjoy our work & love our clients! But without some dedicated time stepping away from our computers & cell phones, it would be so easy to work 24/7 & let the business overtake our lives. Most people leave their houses, go into an office, work 9-5, and then leave their job to come home. Small business owners don’t have that luxury (especially those of us who work from home). My computer is always sitting there staring at me, my to-do list is constantly getting longer, emails don’t stop coming in just because 5pm hits, and if I let it, I could easily work around the clock.

And that’s where the Lake House steps in and says, “Not today!” Being away gives me permission to put my phone down, to stop checking in on Facebook, to quit posting to Instagram, and yes, even to take a week off of blogging if I want to!

And for that, I’ll be eternally grateful to a Great-Grandfather who I never met, but had the foresight to make a purchase that I’m sure a lot of his friends & family didn’t understand.

Last week, Braelynn & I had the grand opportunity to spend the whole week at the Lake House with my Mom & sister Ruby! It was seriously one of the most relaxing weeks I’ve had in a long time & it was almost painful to come home. There’s a lot of work involved with the Lake House – it isn’t like a “vacation home” where someone is going to come through & clean up after you or a hotel where someone is going to come in with fresh sheets & towels every morning – but it does give permission to relax and enjoy life way more than home allows!

So, what follows are some of my photos of our week!
If you notice a quality difference between some photos – that would be the difference between my iPhone 7 & my Canon 5D Mark III.

Summer Week Spent At Deep Creek Lake, MD

We kicked off our week away by celebrating my “little” brother’s 16th birthday!! Isn’t he handsome?

I just can’t get over her tiny little braid & her yellow dress – just having some breakfast out on the deck Monday morning.

Since the week was, for the most part, perfectly gorgeous, we spent a ton of time in the water! Braelynn & I both have the tans to prove it!

Our cute little swimmer! She’s getting so confident in her swimming skills – it’s amazing!

One of the reasons we specifically chose to stay at the Lake House this week was that the church we attend at the Lake had their VBS nights last week! We only made it to 2 of the 4 nights, but those 2 nights were a blast!

On Wednesday, we had the privilege of hosting Nana & Papa, PJ & Cameron! They were on their way to South Carolina for their own vacation, but stopped at the Lake as a resting point for their “Day 1” of driving. It was so much fun to have them!

This is one of my favorite images ever – I just love it! Papa with his grandkiddos, all sitting on the dock fishing.

PJ actually caught 5 fish off of our dock!!

Meanwhile, the girls were thoroughly enjoying themselves!

..but don’t let their peaceful smiles fool you!! They had their own share of tears too (I’m sorry, but this picture just makes me laugh so hard! They were both playing in the sandbox so nice, until Braelynn decided she wanted to sit where Cameron was, and when she suggested they switch spots, Cameron refused – which ultimately led to the waterworks!)

They got over it though as soon as the s’mores came out.

After they all left to continue their drive south, we went to Harrington Manor State Park for the afternoon! Braelynn was in heaven with all the sand!

(See the difference between my real camera & my cell phone?)

And then it was back to the final night of VBS that night!

We enjoyed lots of wildlife last week! My brother & cousins saw a bear and my Mom saw a skunk, but Braelynn & I just enjoyed watching the baby birds in their nest above our door getting bigger & bigger & then waking up Saturday morning to realize that they’d all flown away!