Maybe you think January is not the best time to be outdoors at Smith Mountain Lake? Well there might be more than know going on for outdoor lovers this winter. I know there are several of these activities my family will enjoy.

How about a visit to the Danville Science Center in Danville, Va. where for $5 you can see damselflies, dragonflies and ladybugs.  Dr. David Hoffman documents his Riverwalk excursions with photography of these amazing insects.  Going on now through February 29th. For more info. call 434-791-5160.

Then there is the Franklin County Master Gardeners Meeting where you can hear speaker Dick Leroy present, “The Unique Ecology of the Galapagos Islands.”  This lecture is open to the public at the Westlake Library in Hardy. January 18th from 1:00  - 3:00 pm. For more info. call 908-797-9440.

You can also join other stargazers in observing Orion, the GreatNebula M42, Betelgeuse (Orion’s red giant), Gemini, Castor, Pollox, Venus and Jupiter on Jan. 19th from 6-8pm. at the Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead St.   Free admission. For info. call 434-791-5160.

Many of us at Smith Mountain Lake own cats, dogs or other beloved pets that have become like family. We all know how our pets are great companions, but what many of us don’t know is that our furred and feathered friends are actually improving our health as well. I found this marvelous little list of all pets can contribute in the way of better health for their companion people at Little Big Cat and thought it was worth sharing with you.

1. Help with Illness: Do you get sick frequently? Studies have shown that pet owners make fewer doctor visits, have shorter hospital stays and take less medication than folks who don’t have pets! Pet interaction also helps reduce the pain of arthritis, minimize the side effects of cancer, and even helps with Alzheimer’s Disease!!

2. Help with Heart Attacks: Want to get well faster after a heart attack? Dog owners are 8 times more likely to survive for more than 1 year after a heart attack than those who don’t have dogs! Increased survival rates are based on owning a dog, not on any other physical, psychological or social factor!

3. Help with Blood Pressure: Want to bring your blood pressure down? Before taking another pill, reach for your pet. Interacting with animals helps lower and balance blood pressure problems. Petting an animal is soothing to mind, body and spirit. We become more focused on loving and being loved which increases mood improving brain chemicals like serotonin and oxytocin.

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We want to wish all the wonderful folks at Smith Mountain Lake a Beautiful Christmas and a marvelous New Year full of blessings and productive adventures. And if you need a last minute Christmas gift for someone hard to buy for – or perhaps someone you forgot…..check out the unique possibilities below.

Give a Virginia Dare Cruise for Christmas!! Gift Certificates Available Now. What could be better? You don’t have to worry about what size, what color or if they are going to like it. You know they will love a cruise!! Call 540-297-7100 Ext 0 or www.vadarecruises.

VitaZen has unique holiday gifts! From Beanpod Candles (buy 3 get 1 free) to electric yogurt makers. VitaZen is open every day until Christmas. Located at 12787 BT Washington Hwy. 540-721-9365  Have a Healthy Happy Holidays!

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If other folks at Smith Mountain Lake have been as eagerly awaiting the release of the Lake Effects movie as I have, you will be glad to see this new website about the movie!

As most of you know the SML Community pitched in to help Life Out Loud Films produce a movie based on the life of 2 sisters at our lovely lake. That movie, “Lake Effects” is completed and should be out in theatres soon.  But in the meantime Life Out Loud Films has put together a great website where you can watch movie trailers, meet the actors and learn other interesting facts about the film.

Check out the Lake Effects website. It will make you even more proud of our beautiful lake and more eager to see the film! (You also might want to check out their newest big screen project with Sara E. Timmins (producer) and author David Baldacci’s book “Wish You Well”.)

There is an exotic breed of cat that is becoming more popular in the US and has several fans at Smith Mountain Lake as well. The Highland Lynx is a hybrid believed by some to have bobcat blood in it’s family tree. These incredible cats are often larger than average, growing up to 25lbs. where the average domestic cat is rarely more than 15lbs. They are usually born with wild looking spotted or striped coat patterns, bobtails and large poly-dactyl paws. They have marvelous personalities and very few who cat lovers who buy them stop at just one.

The Highland Lynx cat has become so well known and desired by cat lovers everywhere, that Animal Planet’s Cats 101 is expected to be airing a show on them sometime in December of this year.

Perhaps you love cats but can’t (or don’t wish to) buy an expensive one. Well, you can still enjoy the exotic beauty of the Highland Lynx because there is now a 2012 Highland Lynx Cat Calendar full of photos of these gorgeous cats! There is a Highland Lynx breeder in Franklin County, Virginia who wished to see her favorite breed on a calendar all year long, and since there was not one in existence, she collaborated with several other breeders to create one. If you love cats, you will find this calendar as wonderful as I did. Check it out at http://www.shepherdslairbobtailcats.com/highland-lynx-cat-calendar.html.

It is no little thing to awaken in our warm, snug homes at Smith Mountain Lake. To have food in our refrigerator, running water, plenty of blankets and clothes, dozens of pairs of shoes and money to buy many other things far beyond what we “need”; these are incredible and amazing blessings!! And best of all most of us have loving relationships with someone, that brings it all to life. You are wondering if this is leading to a sermon on starving children in Africa. No, nor is it a discourse on the homeless in America.

It is simply me, sitting at my computer, looking out the window and thinking about how easy it is to take all that we have for granted. It could all be gone so quickly. People can die, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes can wipe out possessions, economic crashes can demolish life savings and investments and jobs. My mind whirls with a variety of thoughts about the fragility of life………what kind of attitude do I have toward inconveniences; am I a complainer or am I thankful for all that I have been blessed with; what would I have left if all that I put so much dependence in was gone???

Is there anything that is eternal, lasting, imperishable? And if there is more to life than what we see and touch, then am I the kind of person who will be deserving of participation in that kind of world?

I believe there is a God who is eternal, and that there is a life beyond this one. I want to be the kind of person God would want with Him in that life, and I am trying to be that kind of person with His help. I need to have a stronger determination to pour out gratitude every day for the overwhelming blessings in my life; to love the people precious to me while I have them; and not to take for granted my hot water heater, toilet paper, my imperfect job, or the ability to see through these reading glasses I wear.

Thanksgiving……it’s not a day, it’s a way of life.

Many years ago, before I knew Smith Mountain Lake existed, I knew some elderly ladies who loved to cook. One was my Grandmother who always had some of the best food at her house that I had ever tasted. Both ladies were pretty health conscious too, so our family was excited to get hold of a couple of their recipes. With Thanksgiving coming up, I thought I would share two of them. Enjoy and have a blessed Day of Thanks!

Honey-Glazed Duck (or Chicken)

1 5lb. bird

1 and 1/2  tsp salt

1 tsp poultry seasoning

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup lemon juice

1 and 1/2 tsp dry mustard

5 thin slices of lemon

5 thin slices of onion

Clean bird and prick in several places to allow fat to drain while cooking. Combine salt, poultry seasoning and paprika in bowl and mix well. Rub mix all over inside and outside of bird. Place in a 450 degree oven for 20 minutes. Drain off fat and reduce oven to 350 degrees.

Mix honey, lemon juice and mustard in bowl and brush sauce onto bird abundantly. Bake for 1 hour.  Brush glaze onto bird once more, secure onion and lemon slices to bird with toothpicks and continue baking for 20 minutes or till done.

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Once upon a time, two friends who lived on adjoining properties at Smith Mountain Lake, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of living side-by-side, sharing boats and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long friendship fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding over someone not re-filling the gas can they used to mow the grass, and it grew into a major fight. Finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence and avoiding each other.

One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s toolbox. “I’m looking for a few days’ work,” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? I would be glad for the work.”

“Yes,” said the older of the 2 friends. “I do have a job for you. Look across the ravine there to the property on the other side. That’s my neighbor Sam Brown’s place. In fact, he was once my best friend! Last week there was a pretty woodland in there. But he recently took his bulldozer in and wiped out the trees and created that ravine between us.  Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence – an 8-foot fence, so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore.”

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One of the most obvious things that draws people to Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia is the love of water. Fishing, boating, water skiing, camping, swimming – there are so many ways to enjoy yourself when you are at the lake. Some of us even like to just sit on the shore and soak up the sight of the mountains, the smell of nature, the sounds of the water lapping against the shore…

As all lake lovers know, an important part of spending time near the water is learning what it takes to be safe. Nearly all great experiences can become deadly if you don’t pay attention to the rules of the game. Mountain climbing, scuba diving, horseback riding, tennis, and even fishing and boating can be dangerous without safety protocols. And the law says that everyone on the lake needs to know the rules.

In Virginia the law requires anyone who operates a motor boat or personal water craft to be educated about water safety and to have a Boater Education Card to prove they have done so. A boater education card does not expire and does not need to be renewed. If you have not taken your boaters safety course you can study and take it online at any time. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has approved the use of certain online courses that you can use to get your boating certification. Please check for more information on boater exam Virginia to get your boat license.

The boating season at SML is not quite over, so get your Boater Education Card and come on out and have some fun.

Don’t miss the 9th Annual Smith Mountain Lake Fall Chili and Craft Festival on November 5th. The whole family will enjoy a day at the lake with music, crafts and of course the spectacular competitive chili cook-off.  Trophies will be awarded for “Best Chili,” “People’s Choice,” and “Showmanship.”

Chili cooking will begin at 9am. on Sat. the 5th with the tasting starting at noon and finally judging at 3:00pm. If you are just coming to taste and have fun the gates will be open from 11am. to 4pm. For the kids, Candy Top the Clown will be there, as well as Miss Smith Mountain Lake and Miss SML Outstanding Teen.

This even will be held Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, near the Hales Ford Bridge and there will be something for everyone to do. Come by car or come by boat,  and the parking is free.

For more info. visit the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce.