Lake Reflections: A Fall Sisters Weekend

My soul reaches its golden state of being each September through November. A delicious autumn breeze will send a thrill from head to toe, and showers of brightly colored leaves set off angel choirs in my head.

I am, unabashedly, a lover of fall. Let me bring you along on my annual Sister Weekend as we celebrate the season together.

Call me biased, but the lake is positively resplendent this time of the year and my sis and I drink deep of her abundance.

Friday

The fun begins as a minivan with South Carolina plates pulls into the driveway. Late afternoon approaches, and we reluctantly press pause on our constant stream of uninterrupted chatter to head over to SML Fine Wines.

After much fun and deliberation at the Friday tasting, the two of us agree on our purchase. Since wine-ing works up an appetite, we then drive to Cancun at Bridgewater Plaza where a table on the back deck awaits.

Between the birria tacos, the company and the water view, dinner leaves us fat and happy. We linger long after the last chip has been eaten. The magical fall weather inspires us to soak up every drop of these halcyon days.

Saturday

Autumn mornings are my favorite. Crisp, fresh and rejuvenating.

A picnic breakfast is calling and who are we to refuse? Packing up our baked pumpkin oatmeal and some piping hot coffee, we head to SML Community Park. The pier there is a great boat-watching spot! This weekend happens to be the Charity Home Tour, so we plot out our route before heading home to get ready
for the day.

Next on the agenda, we visit a few boat-friendly houses on the tour before water traffic picks up. My husband is a willing captain, and our pups are happy to come along for the ride.

Lunchtime rolls around, and we head ashore, trading boat for car, bound for the eastern side of the lake. We call in an order of deli sandwiches to Westlake Coffee and Cafe’ and pick them up en route to avoid Home Tour lines.

Bags of bright, fresh-picked apples catch our eye as we drive past the Westlake Farmers Market, and we find ourselves making a quick detour. The rich flavors, scents and colors of fall are things my sister and I both relish.

This evening holds my ultimate autumnal trifecta: tasty food/drink, the lake and good friends. Flannels donned and fresh-made apple crisp in hand, we head over to a neighbor’s house for a bonfire and to watch the sun slowly dip into the water.

Sunday

As my sister sleepily pads out of her room in search of some java, we agree that a morning constitutional is in order. In the subdivision across the street we enjoy a different perspective of our peninsula. Getting our steps in as we solve all the problems of the world? Check and check.

Refreshed, Sunday brunch at Jake’s Place is unanimously voted upon. Secretly, my husband and I are continuing our (not-so) subtle campaign to get her family up to the lake via this classic brunch-with-a-view move.

Though South Carolina is calling (sigh), we squeeze in one more home tour stop and some quality afternoon time on our back deck. Hands wrapped around mugs of cider, leaves dancing in the wind, diamonds sparkling across the water, we sit and savor.

Until next October rolls around…