from shirley's cottage

The Lake Road, Revisited

I know I have complained about things on the lake road: too many signs, the hacking of the trees by the utility company, the frequent speeders, and so on. But the road endures.
I think of this 1.8 mile stretch as a community unto itself.
There are all kinds of people from varied backgrounds, interests and economic situations. Summer people, year-round residents, and vacationers share the road and surroundings.
There are trailers, mobile homes, campers, cabins, cottages, and six-figure homes. There is even a home down the road that was raised up and they built under it. Way to go. I’m not saying we all live in total harmony, but almost.
Sometimes I see things that are not there anymore. I go past the old Arbor Dell and remember how we used to walk up there for dinner. There was a time when the lower level was opened up for the younger ones. Saturday nights was for live music, and a little dancing.
With all the windows, the lake and its activities were part of the scene. The rectangle bar made us all friends. Everyone talked to everyone. We met a lot of nice people at the old Arbor Dell.
Eva Ruxton’s rummage sale is another place and memory that is dear to my heart. Her home and the Damp home next door were the impressive homes on the lake.
Her year-round rummage sale was a place you could not pass up. It might have been called a craft fair. She made her home available to anyone who had homemade wares to sell, besides good rummage stuff. The kids could take a quarter and come home with a treasure. I got the best jar of pickles I ever had at Eva’s.
The best thing about Eva was Eva herself. She was a lovely, truly nice, classy lady. Always one of the best things about the walk on the lake road. She is still missed.
Shore Place used to be more than a sandy beach.. It was a safe hang-out for the kids of all ages.
I miss what no longer is. It reminds me to celebrate what is right now. You know, take time to smell the roses. I don’t have any roses, but I do take time to enjoy what my little community has to offer.
I like the walkers. They are the ones who seem to enjoy. I hope to become one of them in the near future.
Besides being used for leisure and exercise, the road is a good training ground. This morning two guys on bikes who looked like they were practicing for the tour de France came whizzing by. They took a split second to nod their helmeted heads.
Lately I haven’t seen the dogs pulling a sled on wheels. I always thought they were training for the Idilarod in Alaska.
I probably talk about the lake and the road a little too much. But it is so much a part of my day, every day. When the season changes, I have to comment. I’ll wait until Fall for the next chapter.
It’s easy today to seg-way from the lake road to the recipe. I received a book in the mail from friends Bill and Judy. It is Paula Deen’s memoirs. You know her if you cook, or watch the cooking channel.
. As I took it out of the mailbox, I headed right down to the lake. It doesn’t get any better: a beautiful sunny day, coming off of the lake road, sitting on the pier, and reading a good book. I was smelling the roses.
Comfort food from Paula Deen’s It Ain’s All About The Cooking.
Beef Stroganoff
you will need:
1 ½ pounds cubed round steak, cut into strips
flour
2 T olive oil
2 T butter
1 onion, sliced
8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
one 10 3/4 can Campbell’s mushroom soup
one 11 ounce beef broth
1 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
House seasoning (1 cup salt, 1/4 cup pepper, 1/4 cup garlic powder, Makes 1 ½ cups, will last up to six months)
Season steak strips with house seasoning and dust with flour
Brown on both sides in oil and butter
Remove steak from pan
Add onion, and mushrooms to drippings
Saute and sprinkle with 1 t flour
Put steak back in pan
Add soup and broth
Cook on low for about 30 minutes
Stir in sour cream
Serve over flat noodles. And enjoy.