Happy Weekend!
I often get comments and emails about the lake;
What lake do you live on and how big is it?
Lake Norman, was created between 1959 and 1964, as part of the construction of the Cowans Ford Dam by Duke Energy and is the largest man-made body of fresh water in North Carolina. It provides electricity to the Piedmont region of the Carolinas, and powers the generators at the hydroelectric station at Cowans Ford Dam, is used by the coal-fired Marshall Steam Station, and by McGuire Nuclear Station to cool the reactors generating the steam that drives the turbines. The lake supplies water to three counties; Lincoln, Catawba and Iredell County, along with the cities of Mooresville, Charlotte, and other towns in Mecklenburg County, particularly Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville.
Lake Norman is fed by the Catawba River and drains into Mountain Island Lake to the south. It’s referred to as the “inland sea” of North Carolina, with 520 miles of shoreline and a surface area of more than 50 square miles. Full pond at Lake Norman is 760 feet above mean sea level.
Gracie says the one of best things about Lake Norman is going on pontoon ride with crushed ice as a treat to stay cool. . .
And the smell of burgers on the grill at dinnertime. . .
Admiring the beautiful homes by the water. . .
A ride in the Captain’s chair. . .
Watching the wild life, , ,
Great Blue Herons nesting in the tree tops on the islands . . .
And checking on the Osprey nests and their young. . .
And the sunset views.
Happy Weekend!
Hi Mary, beautiful thanks for sharing!
Beautiful photos and homes and I love the heron silhouettes in the tops of the trees! Doggie kisses to Gracie. ♥
Beautiful.. thanks for the cruise.
Thank you for sharing your awsome photos. Enjoy your Sunday.
Good Morning Mary! Thank you for the beautiful photos and start to my day. The map was interesting to see, I didn’t realize your lake was so big. I hope Gracie gets a ride in the Captain’s chair today. Happy Sunday!
I always enjoy starting my day with some puppy love! Beautiful photos! Happy Weekend!
Such a great place, and happy to say I got to experience it. We watched an HGTV episode recently of Lakeside Bargain Hunt featuring Lake Norman. It was fun to watch and point out to my husband {hint, hint}. You have yourselves a little slice of heaven there, Mary.
What a treat to find your post about Lake Norman this morning. Great info and pictures! (I shared it on my FB page so friends could see what is near us.) Thank you, as always, for bringing joy to my day.
I wish our pup would enjoy a boat ride as much as Gracie, she’s terrified of our boat and water. Love your photos this morning, especially those sunset views!
Beautiful post. Love how Gracie takes it all in.
Thanks for a lovely ride! You capture it beautifully!
Beautiful ! My son used to rent a condo on Lake Norman and when we went to visit we rented a lagoon boat and loved it. A beautiful area.
I enjoy your photos, delicious recipies and table Decor ideas. Have a wonderful weekend
Nancy from Woodstock CT
Beautiful views!
Gracie looking at the sunset is adorable!
Thank you for bringing to us as reminder of the greatness and beauty of God’s creation!
Gale
Beautiful photos Mary…we spent a lot of time on the boat this weekend, but our waters were overflowing with summer boaters…we are looking forward to September when all the tourists go home! Your lake is beautiful, with many places to go exploring. I love cruising around looking at houses and wildlife. It’s so sweet that Gracie loves to boat too!
Jenna
Coffee and your beautiful post is a great way to start my day! Thanks for the morning treat!
Wow, how gorgeous are these pics?! The one of the bird right over it’s nest is frame worthy. Thanks for sharing such beauty!
What a great post! Always so enjoy seeing sweet Gracie! All of the pictures are awesome, but Gracie and the sunset went straight to my heart! What a lovey! Give her hugs from me please. Wish I could put her in my lap! ♥️🐶♥️ Thanks Mary.
Looks like a perfect way to enjoy the sunset. The pictures with Gracie are precious and it loos like she loves her daddy a lot! It’s fascinating learning about some of the engineering efforts created with like lakes and dams for energy. Have a beautiful Sunday!
You have a lovely little guide and navigator there. Very interesting.
I appreciate all your beautiful phots, so inspiring. My husband and I live on Lake Lanier in Georgia. its 39,500 acres. we so enjoy getting out on the lake with family, and friends. You have given me so many fun and awesome ideas to make our time even more special and meaningful
Hi Mary ~ Thanks so much for your beautiful and adorable pictures. They made my morning !! Hugs, Dorinda
Thank you and Gracie for the lovely tour! Love your blog.
Thank you for starting my week with beauty.
Beautiful views and photos!! 💕
Beautiful views, sunsets and the little sweet fuzzy bud is always worth a smile.
Thank you for the beautiful photos. They brightened my day.
I love your posts and your little fur ball! Look forward to them each day! Gogeous photos! Makes me wish I was there!
Mary, living lakeside must be a charmed life. The beauty and serinity appeals to me. I miss our days on Lake Travis. We often looked at lake property in our younger years, but never took the leap. Hind sight, we should have! Thanks for taking us along. Happy Sunday! Enjoy the rest of the summer days. Wishing you cool breezes and burgers on the grill!
Thanks for the weekend sunset cruise and history of Lake Norman!!! So Lovely!!!
Thanks Karen, Happy Sunday🍷⚓️🐾🌞
Magnifiques photos ! Et plein de caresses pour Gracie !
Bon dimanche;
Merci Granny 35❣️🐾
Kerr Lake in northern North Carolina has 850 miles of shoreline and covers 50,000 acres. It is the largest in the southeast. I remember when the Core of Engeneers visited my exhusbands family to inform them that part of their family farm would be covered in water because of the Buggs Island Dam that would be built. It was devastating to that family. Today it is a large recreation area and brings in people from many states.
~Mary~
Man made = amazing !! what blessing living in such a beautiful area. The pictures of your puppy girl made me giggle so cute !!
Have a joyful week ,
Paula
IN
Thanks Paula, Happy Sunday❣️ 🌞🐾
Its a very lovely lake but hatee driving through the area on the way to and from Florida. So busy with traffic unless you drive early A,M, Love looking at your puppy pics.
Hi Cookie, Traffic on I-77 is horrific, we try to avoid it at all costs! :)
You have to let me know if there are any back roads to get around it?
Unfortunately 77 is a main artery through the area. Depending on where you’re traveling you can bypass part of it using 485 and 16.
Since Gracie is so smart could she tell us where the on the map the Bermuda Triangle is located that Mary likes to shop and get all of her wonderful merchandise she finds for this blog Beautiful pictures. Thanks.
Hi Barbara, The Bermuda Triangle (or Quadrangle!) is in Mooresville at exit 36 off 77, with HomeGoods, Pier 1, Target and World Market. ;)
Your Gracie is so precious! Just LOVE seeing her in your posts. I have driven by Lake Norman on numerous occasions on my way to Atlanta. Have always admired the beautiful homes there and only wish and dream that I might afford to live in this location. Have to win that Lottery 😍. Your blog is one of the most interesting and soothing to my soul. Thank you so much for all your efforts and keep blogging!❤️
Thanks so much for your sweet comment Debra❣️We were lucky to find our lake house 17 years ago while we were spending our summers at my in laws lake house and on their pontoon. 🐾⚓️🌞
I love lakes – quite as much or more than the sea. We live on the banks of a small lake (Capri) in Palm Coast Fl. But it is private and no boats allowed. Still, I love the peace of the water and all the bird life. Osprey nest quite nearby, visiting our lake to fish, as do other water birds, flights of egrets and various heron types nest on small islands within our neighborhood, Once a Bald Eagle flew over our pool enclosure and almost blotted out the sky. The area is a designated Audubon Site. Deer wander past my house following the lakeside.
At home in Ohio we have a one acre wildlife pond that provides endless interest throughout the year. Because I am a no chemicals girl we have many different kinds of birds – everything from nesting geese and ducks, herons -Great Blue, Night Herons, Green Herons, Kingfishers, Purple Martins every year and nesting Redwing Blackbirds sitting on sentry duty in the surrounding trees.
This year we had Bluebirds nesting very near the house.
My favorite spot inside the house is a view of the pond thru a big window where I sit unseen and watch my own magical live show. This past week we watched as a small herd of deer played on our front lawn, babies chasing one another around the trees.
Thank you for sharing your lake, your shed and all your talents. I do hope that I haven’t rambled too much!
It sounds like a little slice of heaven Eddi! I would love to see a Bald Eagle one day. Thanks for your visits and sweet comment❣️
Mary, Such beautiful photographs. Thank you.
Thanks Virginia, enjoy your Sunday❣️🐾
Love all your photos, especially Gracie enjoying the sunset. Thanks for sharing.
Love Lake Norman has really grown in the 19 years I lived in Winston Salem. You are so blessed to have such a beautiful place to live and boat!
Beautiful photos, here in South Jersey we have many of the same birds & wildlife. Thank you for sharing your “slice of heaven” Lake Norman!
Jo
Good afternoon Mary-This was such a wonderful set of pictures you shared with us. All are so beautiful & relaxing. Gracie is a sweetheart. My favorite frame is Gracie standing on her hind legs with her nose in the air & her little pink tongue sticking out as if she were indeed anticipating a burger! Nothing warms my 💓 more than to see a happy, well loved fur baby! Hope you have a wonderful evening. Clara
Thank you for your sweet comment and visits Clara, Happy Sunday❣️🐾
Thank you for the tour of Lake Norman! You sure have captured the beauty of lake living!! I enjoy watching all the wild life on our little lake as well. Gracie looks like she just loves going out on the pontoon. Have a wonderful week!
Thank you Ann! Happy boating to you too. I’m still smiling over your boat of cherries❣️ 🚣♀️ 🍒 ⚓️😀
Mary, this took me back to our boat rides along the Intracoastal when we lived in Florida for two years…the lovely, calm waters, the herons, and even a furry friend to accompany us! Thank you for sharing your wonderful day!
Thanks for your visit Marie, Happy Sunday❣️🐾⚓️
Gracie loves her boat rides!
Your photography is exceptional!
❤️
I loved seeing Gracie enjoying her pontoon ride on your beautiful Lake Norman! Gracie smelling the burgers was the best, and seeing the wildlife and the sunset. Hope you had a wonderful weekend, Mary.
Mary, what beautiful photos of Lake Norman. It looks like a lovely place to call home.
A beautiful post!! My fav is Gracie and the wild life!! Thanks for sharing!! ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for sharing the beautiful sunset photos! We’re looking forward to enjoying many days on the lake when we move there next yea. Happy boating!
Thank you for the beautiful wildlife shots – and the domesticated animal shots too! :-)
Just gorgeous! You are lucky to live on the water. I find being near water is very centering and peaceful.
My Grandpaw and his friends watched Duke Power build the Dam, even as it was being build they never believed it would happen. If they were here they also wouldn’t believe how it changed their BEAUTIFUL LITTLE TOWN OF CORNELIUS. If you live close to Cornelius you are a very lucky women. So sorry I lost my Grandparents house due to the growth along Zion St. in Cornelius. My heart is broken and always will be! Martha
I have really been dreaming about the possibility of a lake house lately. Your little spot of the world is so lovely, I always enjoy your lakeside tablescapes. The peaceful cruise upon the lake you took us on today is so nice. The lake is so lovely, and I know on the water there is always something new to see, with all of the birds and the the other boaters cruising on the lake. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful lake life with us all.
Wonderful pictures of your time on the lake. We live close to Tellico Lake in TN,
and are also in awe of The waterfowl. Enjoy!
As usual your photography is breathtaking especially of Lake Norman. Gracie is so precious and you can tell she loves her daddy. Looking at your photos I can imagine I am there seeing everything. Thank you for sharing. I know this post was from last weekend so hope this weekend is a good one as well.