The Lakeside Life Blog
Smith Lake Alabama | Lewis Smith Lake Alabama
#SmithLakeBBQ - The Bully SliderFor our Labor Day weekend, we decided to stick with the theme of the holiday and make it "all play and no labor." We didn't even want to have to fire up the grill or the smoker—at least not but a couple of times. We wanted non-stop lake action, and the ability to stay dockside between all the watersports activities. So lunch needed to be grab & go, even easy enough to bring down to the dock for the kids, and perhaps enough leftovers to carry over for dinner since we'd be out late in the evening too, only coming in due to nightfall, and exhausted from a day on the water. This super easy recipe was provided by Joseph Edens of Bully Sauce Brand LLC. You’ll enjoy following Bully Sauce on Facebook and Instagram - @bullysauce - and go ahead and order both the white & red sauce, and grab a bottle of Sweet Slobba Rub too, all are very versatile in the kitchen to spice up your recipes and are great used together in many different ways. You can also find Bully Sauce products in many Walmart or Publix locations in North Alabama, and be sure to look where the Alabama made products section is - usually the end of aisle areas. Just ask! Indeed the perfect lunch for lakeside ease or gameday tailgating, and for Labor Day weekend entertaining – helps save time and effort, but you still feel like you’ve really pulled something together that the adults and kids can all get on board with. Great for feeding a lot of folks - they can serve themselves. Now obviously, if you can smoke your own meat for this recipe ahead of time, all the more better, and be sure to get some tips and tricks from Joseph Edens himself - he knows just how to season and cook it up RIGHT. But, if you don't have time to smoke or grill your meat - just order ahead and go pick up an already smoked & ready Boston Butt at a local Smith Lake spot like Son’s of Arley, Mad Dog Mike’s BBQ, Kat Daddy's, Pop's BBQ, Ryan's Creek BBQ & Produce - or any of the fantastic BBQ spots or trucks that cater to the lake area. THE BULLY SLIDER INGREDIENTS
Combine in order as listed above. We served with a plate of fresh sliced tomatoes and avocados, some Lay's Kettle Cooked Mesquite BBQ potato chips and Lay's Kettle Cooked Jalapeño potato chips; and as another side, we offered a bowl of coarsely shredded cabbage with Thousand Island dressing, then peppered to taste. Garnish with Wickles Dirty Dill Spears, and chow down!!!
If you would like to submit a recipe for the magazine, please do not hesitate to email us at thelakesidelife@gmail.com or find us up on Facebook PM or Instagram DM. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy all the goodies others are sharing!
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8/24/2018 0 Comments Smith Lake Event - Swim the SmithLocal Swimmers Take on a 35-mile Marathon Swim Benefitting the American Cancer Society
"Swim the Smith" was the idea of Coach Arnold, who is a very accomplished open water skier himself. He happened to read an article about a coach who took 5 non-swimmers, trained them in a year, and the team ultimately went on to complete a 70 kilometer swim in Lake Geneva, Switzerland. The swim was not only an athletic challenge to celebrate here on our very own Smith Lake, but it was more importantly also a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. You can make donations through the Relay for Life of Jasper/Walker County for the Jasper Masters Swim Team Please do not hesitate to reach out to the group if you would like to help them even after this event has ended earlier than they expected - support is still welcome and appreciated - or you can call Coach Danny Arnold any time at 205-530-4693. They would love to have your support, and we hope that they'll continue to do this event in the future. GREAT JOB TEAM "SWIM THE SMITH!!!" Said local photographer Scott Eric Day, "I am super proud of them! I am also proud of the Smith Lake community - there were people all across the lake cheering them on from their docks and backyards throughout the swim! Love our lake community!" Head on over to their Facebook page, and check out how it all went down - @swimthesmith Click the attached video link - it features Coach Danny Arnold - U.S. Masters Swim Coach of Jasper AL - recorded right in front of a favorite #spotsonsmith - Duncan Bridge in Walker County. Coach Arnold explains how the marathon swim came to be, and offers more great details about the event. https://www.facebook.com/swimthesmith/videos/2178122369087856/
Now this recipe does not call for egg yolks, which makes a heavier, more custard style of vanilla ice cream which we like for colder seasons with pies, but this one is a bit lighter in feel and the fresh light base gives you endless possibilities for making any flavor your heart desires with toppings. We just happen to love it with fresh berries and fruits. INGREDIENTS 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 ¼ cups whole milk (not reduced fat) ½ cup white granulated sugar ¼ cup light brown sugar a pinch of salt 2 t pure vanilla extract optional - add ¼ to ½ t vanilla bean powder (or fresh scraped vanilla bean paste from 1 vanilla bean). Use your judgment in amount to boost your vanilla flavor to desired level. INSTRUCTIONS
Recipe provided by The Hanna Family, 07/4/18.
6/12/2018 1 Comment Smith Lake Local - SPOTLIGHT - Artist - SCOTT BROWN (and Smith Lake Small Business)
You can see more of Scott’s work by following @scottercolors on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, or by visiting his website https://scottercolors.com.
Scott is also an exhibiting member of the Huntsville Art League in the Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment Complex. For commission information, visit https://scottercolors.com/commissions/. AND. . . we'll have more to tell you about Scott Brown in the future, so stay tuned! 6/5/2018 1 Comment Smith Lake Local - SPOTLIGHT - Singer, Songwriter, Artist, Actress - JESSICA BAKERIt turns out that Jessica is an amazingly talented singer, songwriter, artist and actress. She is a powerhouse singer who is often tapped to sing the national anthem at events, festivals, sports arenas, etc. She learned to sing in church, and her career just bloomed from there. From the time she first sang publicly at the age of 13, she has steadily become an incredible versatile talent. Jessica has worked in the commercial and film industry, appearing in several different feature films. The arts are obviously what she gravitates towards, there is an undeniable strong pull there. Most recently she recorded and has released her debut hit single "Ashes". Her goal through her music is to bring hope, inspiration and encouragement to all her fans. This debut single nails that perfectly. We are listening and we want more. This new emotional song "Ashes" is definitely one you'll return to often, we love it. Here is the link to the official music video for this single "Ashes" that you may have heard on local stations very recently: https://youtu.be/Mk3FBbyCWTY - ENJOY! Jessica says she likes to sing a mixture of things, older and newer, and can sing anything from Elvis, to Sia, to Creed. Now that's a wide variety of interesting music. We bet she has quite an eclectic collection of songs for an entertaining set indeed. In fact, she has recently been working out her vocals and practicing for sets at DeSoto Caverns, so she is ready to show out. Wouldn't you love to hear Jessica sing some of your favorites or even some more beautiful originals? Please check out our local songstress when you have time, you'll be glad you did. We hope our Alabama businesses take notice as they prepare their weekend line-ups and add Jessica into their mix of live music very soon. And, she's also available for TV, commercial or film spots - she's a natural! Look for a future issue for more information about our Smith Lake talented artist, Jessica Baker. We love supporting local talent in every way we can. You will find Jessica on Facebook as @imjessicabaker and Instagram as @itsjessicabaker or by website at https://www.jessicabakerofficial.com. “I feel so blessed to be able to pursue my dreams as a singer, songwriter and as an artist. I truly believe when you are given a gift or a talent, the only way to find fulfillment and purpose in your life is to share it with others."
- Jessica Baker. Did you know March is National Craft Month? We have many talented crafters right here in the Smith Lake area, not to mention all over the State of Alabama. Spring craft shows will be in full swing soon. We hope you find time to get out and enjoy a few festivals this season. You will LOVE what they have to offer, unique custom products made lovingly by hand, and with a talented artistic eye for detail. Hard to come by in an age of mass production. In fact, one particular local festival will have MANY regional crafters in attendance very soon - The 34th Annual Bloomin' Festival on the grounds of gorgeous St. Bernard Preparatory School in Cullman, AL. Mark the dates, April 21-22, 2018, and plan to attend. It's a must-do in our area. You can get more information about the festival on their Facebook page: @bloominfestival We also want to take a moment to shout out at least a FEW of our Smith Lake area crafters as well. There are many - but these are a few in particular that we have noticed on social media just recently. We have found they are extremely talented in their niche, and fortunately for us, they are accessible and convenient - right here in the area - lakeside! Meet John & Jill Strickland - Cullman area residents - Jill is a wife & mother, a crafter and so much more. Not only can Jill sew all kinds of beautiful custom items, but she and her husband John also build small wooden furniture such as adirondack chairs, benches, picnic tables, swings and bedswings. John enjoys the wood work, and he puts a lot of hours and love into each piece he creates. They have a special personal reason behind much of their work, it is a loving grief therapy for this incredible family. Look for an upcoming article in The Lakeside Life magazine about the Stricklands, their little growing company, and their family journey. Proceeds from their work benefit the WSCC Future Foundation Scholarship Fund in the name of John Connor Strickland. Contact them now, and they can help create you a one-of-a-kind piece that you'll treasure for many years to come. You can find them on Instagram: @johnwjill - please look them up very soon! Meet Sandra Heaven "Heaven & Earth Pottery" & Diane Sharron "Creations in Clay" #brushycreekpotter - These two lovely ladies are residents of the Arley community, and they are volunteer pottery teachers at Meek High School & Middle School. Sandra has been an art instructor most of her life, having taught art classes at Wallace State for over 25 years. A few years ago, not long after moving to Smith Lake from Mississippi, Diane signed up for a class as a student with Sandra, and became a quick study. The two ladies formed a bond and a pottery partnership. They enjoy different styles, Sandra primarily enjoys turning clay pieces on the pottery wheel, and Diane enjoys free form clay design. All of their pieces are so unique and detailed. The glazes are painstakingly hand mixed - there's an art just in the chemistry of these mixes. They can obtain glazes from traditional colors & types to deep, rich, rustic tones and styles of "dipping" - the possibilities are endless with these artists. It seems there is nothing they can’t do with the glazes that help take the pieces to that next level of beauty. All pieces are lovingly designed with the artists' fine eye for detail - incredibly beautiful! In addition to the classes they offer for the Arley school system, they also offer private group lessons as well. Obviously you can request custom pieces, but even better - sign up for a class very soon - no better therapy in the world than "arting" - AND you get to take your very own handiwork home. Their shop is located on the school grounds, and they offer very reasonable rates, with class times that are sure to match your schedule. Contact them any time - Sandra Heaven @ 205-384-4332 www.heavenandearthpottery.com and Diane Sharron @ 601-260-9697 or on Instagram: @dianesharron - be sure to watch for a future article in the magazine on this local studio, you'll be amazed other awesome things these ladies do for our community! Christine Williamson - a spicy Cajun transplant in our midst - originally from New Orleans, but now, luckily for all of us, she made her way to this area and is now a part of our Smith Lake family. She still has family in New Orleans, and it will always be “home" as well, but home is where the heart is, and she's definitely got a soft spot now for the lake community. Christine is an incredible seamstress, we think that she could execute nearly any item you can imagine involving sewing. She is currently completing her new sewing studio as we write this. She'll finally have a designated space all her own so her creativity has room to breathe. We can't wait for our studio visit soon, she's very close to moving in all her supplies right now, and getting everything nicely organized. As she awaits the completion of the new studio, she is excited to plan new projects for the future, and has already taken on some custom quilt designs. She obviously makes quilts for sale, and builds commissioned quilts, but also sews custom items like tote bags, coasters, ornaments and stockings. Custom orders are always welcome! Her artistic goal is to combine function and beauty, she is always looking for vintage and unique fabrics, and will advise you what can be done with your own materials upon consultation. Make plans to go visit Christine as soon as you can. Find her on Instagram and Facebook: @upclearcreek - or try email cometw@gmail.com McFee's Wodshop is the creation of Bryan and Carol McFee in Crane Hill, AL. They are both wood turners. Carol is a "spindle" turner. She makes bud vases, handles for bottle openers, ice cream scoops, pizza cutters, back scratchers, and similar items. The vases are all sizes, and we recently did a giveaway for a matched pair that were hard to let go. They were small, dainty and so beautifully detailed. We fell in love. Bryan primarily turns bowls. GORGEOUS bowls with veins of surprising colors in the wood grain, each one unique and precariously turned and polished to perfection. He also makes coffee tables and end tables. He takes special orders if it is something that he feels he can "do justice to." They use only local hardwoods that they harvest themselves. Most of the trees that they use are dead, dying, or already on the ground. Occasionally they will remove a tree when asked to. As the trees die, decay sets in. In wood turner parlance this is called spalting. It creates the beautiful colors and lines that are so prominent in their work. Bryan jokes "We throw the wood out in the front yard until it starts to grow mushrooms, then we know that the wood is ready!" This does sometimes create problems if the decay goes too far. Then it gets "punky". This means that it is too rotten to work with. It is always a fine line between "just right" and "too far gone." They love for people to drop by and visit them in their shop. In true southern fashion, they have a lot of extra chairs for company. They are a beautiful couple, you will love every second of time you get with them. Check them out on Facebook today: @McFees Woodshop and you may contact Bryan by email: bryanmcfee0425@gmail.com or phone: 205-541-0658. Again, please look up ALL of these fine artisans on social media, and make sure you tell them you were sent by The Lakeside Life Team. We love our local crafters and artists - all of them - far and wide throughout Alabama! If you know of someone we haven't met yet, please send them our way by emailing us at thelakesidelife@gmail.com or send us a PM/DM on Facebook or Instagram: @thelakesidelife .
Also, be on the watch for more information on these fine Smith Lake people in future content from The Lakeside Life Team. It's fun for us to learn more about the talented folks in our midst - but take it a step further - reach out to them for some custom unique pieces that will become treasured family heirlooms in years to come. See ya lakeside! The Lakeside Life Team |
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