Lake Palisade

My local library recently held a summer project contest. The theme of the project was “rivers, lakes, or oceans” and each family was given a random item to incorporate it in their project. We were given wooden clothespins. I had no idea what to do with them. Maybe I could make giant squid? Octopuses? But like everything I create, it had to have an emotional tie to it.

Then I thought of sweet little Lake Palisade, a beloved lake local in my area. Just as my Cancer sign implies, I’ve always had a love of water. But not vast and unending like the ocean. I prefer something smaller and underwhelming in size. Lake Palisade is small but overwhelming in beauty. It’s what I think of when I think of a lake and it holds the fondest of memories of me in my early 20’s pretending I was an Indian rowing the breadth of it in a red canoe.

Here’s the lovely little canoe cabin, located at the entrance of the lake. This is where tolls are paid to enter or to rent a canoe or paddleboat. Once you leave the dock in your little watercraft, don’t forget to turn your gaze to the lily pads in the southeast corner, softly floating on the water.

On the opposite side of the lake lies the great diving rock. There’s always someone exploring that area. Brave souls have been seen diving into the water from that rock, but only when the water is high! There is a wonderful path that leads to that rock, tucked away by lots of cedar trees and driftwood. I always feel like I’m being watched by something in the trees when I walk on that path to the diving rock…

We’re skipping ahead to my favorite spot. Canopied by old willow trees and tucked away from the rest of the lake is the most quiet and peaceful corner of the lake. Some of the trees are actually in the lake so depending on how high or low the shore line is means you can sometimes manuever your canoe around the tree as the branches (and spiders) caress the nape of your neck.

We can’t forget about the sunbathers in their flashy pink and sparkly bathing suits. The dock really is a wonderful spot to roll out your towel and catch a tan.

Or get on a tube, splash in the water with your friends and enjoy a picnic. This part of the beach I rarely visit because there’s too many people.

And the greatly appreciated fishermen. There is always one out on the dock fishing and he’s always a great reminder to my obtrusive fears that there’s always a possibility of stepping on a fish hook buried in the shoreline.

Another favorite area of mine is the trees that grow horizontally towards the shoreline. Perfect for tree climbers of any age since you’re climbing sort of perpendicular instead of straight up.

See that black hole? That’s a whirlpool. It sucks the water from the lake and takes it to another reservoir that’s used for farming. Not a lot of people know about it but I do. That’s because I’m absolutely terrified of whirlpools. Some people don’t like swimming in dark water because they can’t see what’s below them. Me, I just fantasize and obsess about getting sucked into a whirlpool and sent through an underground water tunnel miles long while painfully suffocating.

Anyway! That’s the beautiful Lake Palisade that me and my kids made for the library school project. Actually, I made the the whole damn thing myself without my kids help. But I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t expecting to win anything since I don’t ever win contests but I’m totally okay with it since I just enjoy the process of making it. I even told my son that there’s a good chance we won’t win anything and that’s okay. But guess what?

We one first prize!