Winter hasn't hit us yet and already I'm thinking of spring and summer at Lake Anna.  We have only had a couple of wintry days when the weather has been down in the 40's.  Other than that we have had unseasonably warm days, many of them sunny ones.  We really have nothing to complain about...unless you like to freeze, and yet I find myself thinking spring is right around the corner.

It seems like it will only be days from now when I'll be passing by the vineyards where Lake Anna Winery grows the grapes for the award winning wine produced there.  The seasons come and go so swiftly and our next one will be here before we know it.  Meanwhile I'm ready for winter if and when it decides to show up at Lake Anna.

Even though winter is fast approaching, at least the official beginning, we are still experiencing some really lovely weather at Lake Anna.  It was a little bit crisp today but the bright sunshine warmed us up.  On days like this its nice enough to be out on the lake.  Although I was too busy to do that it made me think of the times that I am fortunate enough to take a spin up lake.

For those of you that don't live at Lake Anna here's a taste of what it is like during a good part of the year.  I love taking a ride with my husband as he pilots the boat and I sit back taking photo after photo.  It is especially enjoyable when we pass by other folks that are also having a good time.

Some of the shoreline improvements can accommodate a very large crowd and yet are just right for a small gathering.  This is one of those that provides lots of places to enjoy both sunshine and shade.  

A day spent out on Lake Anna supplies me with plenty of memories, and photos, to get me though even the coldest of winter days.

Land sales generally lag well behind home sales and this period has been no different.  As long as resale homes are considered, and rightly so, a good buy purchasers will tend to choose that over selecting land and than going through the building process.

However, there are always those that have a specific type of home that they desire and realize the best way to achieve it is to build.  There are also those that decide to buy land, pay it off, and then proceed to build.

We have experienced a very large reduction in the prices of water access land...land that is not waterfront but is located within a waterfront community.  Fortunately waterfront lots have retained their value much better.  Of course that is largely because there is so much less of it.

The listings that show numbers in the Waterfrontage column are those with actual waterfront.  As can be seen, those that are waterfront command a higher price.  However, pricing waterfront land requires other consideration as well as the amount of shoreline.  It is also dependent on the view as well as the depth of the water. 

It is also important to note that Days on the Market (DOMM) is not always the actual number of days that the land has been for sale.  Often, with houses as well as land, when sellers change agents the listing is enter into the system again and the number of days on the market might start over at zero.  If the time between listings is 90 days or greater that will always be true.

*Information provided by Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. (MRIS)

Here is your chance to support Lake Anna State Park.  We are very fortunate to not only have Lake Anna State Park but we have a multitude of other excellent state parks across Virginia. 

Beautiful Lake Anna State Park

Much of the support for these parks comes in the way of volunteers donating huge numbers of hours.  Right now we have another opportunity to ensure that our parks are well maintained for our use.

Now you can support our state parks in yet another way.  This one is real easy.  Buy a raffle ticket!

The Virginia State Park System is conducting a raffle to be held December 16, 2011 as a part of the current Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign Program (CVC). The raffle proceeds will be given to the Virginia Association for Parks (VAFP) through the CVC Program.

First prize is a 2 night cabin stay at a Virginia State Park. Second prize is attendance to a Women's Wellness Weekend Program to be held at a Virginia State Park. You do not need to be present at the drawing to win.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or 6 tickets for $25. Tickets are available for purchase at all state park offices.

These are great prizes, the tickets are reasonably priced, and VAFP will reinvest the proceeds into the park system. Please share this information with family, friends, co-workers, etc.

Lake Anna is for the young and the young at heart.  Without a doubt, Lake Anna is the kind of place that answers the needs (or should I say desires) of all age groups.

Two of My Girls (Granddaughters)

Our family is a perfect example of that.  We have three generations that love the lake and what it has to offer.  There are so many different things that you can do here.  Here are some of them.

• Swimming

• Wakeboarding

• Fishing
  

• Kayaking
  

• Tubing
  

• Water skiing
  

• Sun bathing
  

• Reading on the dock
  

• Boating
  

• Sailing
  

• Progressive dinners out on the water (if you don't know how to accomplish that let me know and I'll let you know)
  

• Photography (one of my favorites while out on our Tritoon)
  

• Canoeing
  

• Para-sailing

If you've been to Lake Anna and you can add to my list please tell me about it in a comment.

Also, if you would like to know how you can buy property here so that you can take part in Lake Anna's good living let me know and I'll be sure to help you.

One of the first lessons I learned on Active Rain was not to leave home without a very special item. Even for just a run to pick up milk? Always think before you leave home.

Make sure you have your car keys, driver's license, cell phone, some money (in 2011 that means credit card), and the all important camera. DO NOT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!!! You just never know what you might spot. Maybe it's because I am getting older (code for elderly) and my memory is not so sharp I love having photos to remind me of all the fun and interesting things I see out there in my Lake Anna world.

Setting Out to Fish and Compete*

Learning to blog was an adventure for me and although it has been some time since I began the process, I learned very early on that it was good to have some photos or graphics to liven it up. That meant, for me, a very good reason to have that camera by my side.

Many of my posts deal with my market area, Lake Anna. Whether I'm on the road or, more ideally, out on the water there is never a lack of things that catch my eye.

Once you become accustomed to looking at the world around you in terms of photographing it you will be amazed at how often the opportunity presents itself. For me it's another way too of noticing and learning more about Lake Anna. Photoblogging is one of the things I most enjoy. Often I select a photo and then write a post around it. Other times I'm in the midst of writing and think of a photo I've taken, perhaps even some time ago that seems to just fit.

Many of you do the same. For those of you that haven't done this please give some serious thought to doing it. You will learn more about your area as I have using what I refer to as my Active Rain eyes.

*Early one morning I was driving past one of Lake Anna's marinas, Sturgeons Creek, when I glanced out on the water and saw these fishermen lining up to begin competing in a tournament. I quickly turned around, took a few shots, and hit the road again. How disappointed I would have been if I'd not been prepared for such a moment.

Country living surrounds Lake Anna.  There are so many times I think about how lucky Lake Anna residents are to be living in such a special place.  The lake is here, all 13,000 acres of it, with plenty of places to boat, swim, fish, jet ski, wakeboard, and other kinds of fun.

On top of this we are surrounded by beautiful countryside.  Driving these roads on a daily basis, year after year, still leaves me shaking my head at being here.  There are so many farms to admire, horses in pastures, cows lying down in the grass soaking up the sun, and homey looking farmhouses with their wraparound porches.

Taking photos becomes almost a daily past time.  It is seldom that I'm out and about and don't find a reason to pull off the road, reach for my camera and photograph to my heart's content.

Washington, D.C. is only about 90 minutes from Lake Anna while it only take 45-60 minutes to drive to Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg.  It's wonderful to have such vibrant, exciting places a short drive away while having the peace and serenity that country living at Lake Anna gives us.  That and plenty of fun.

If you are looking to live or spend time in a spot like Lake Anna or its surroundings let me know.  I'll help you!

Roses thrive at Lake Anna and this is the time of year that we are blessed to see them blooming all over the place.  As I show homes all around the lake I can't help but take a moment to appreciate the roses I see at many of the properties.

OUR ROSES

Fortunately, we have roses in our own yard.  In spite of the threat of Japanese beetles every year I cannot imagine not having these gorgeous blossoms greeting me as I walk out the door or as I return home.

If you are looking for a wonderful spot to grow your own roses perhaps you'd like to see if Lake Anna is the place for you.

We were very luck to have a wonderful dog named Sam.  Sam lived a long and happy life with us here at Lake Anna.  What a wonderful thing for her.  She moved out of a kennel in a Fredericksburg shelter into a waterfront home on a huge 13,000 acre lake.

As Sam's life began to decline and we learned that she had congestive heart failure we knew tht it was a matter of time and we would have to say good-bye.  What would we do then?

I knew that unless I took steps to fill that void before it actually happened it might be too difficult to do it after.  I know many pet owners that have said it was too hard once their pet died to replace it.  My thought was to make plans in advance which I did. 

The decision was made to find a Cockapoo.  Our request for a pup from a litter due in April 2009 led to our receiving Lindy into our family.  Well, the truth is we did not only get Lindy we also got her brother, Rocky.  Double Trouble! Double Fun! Double Love!

Our Lindy

This may not be the answer for everyone but it truly was for us.  Do we miss Sam?  Do we sometimes talk about her and how much we loved her?  Yes!

Are we happy with the two rascals that have us wrapped around their little fingers?  (That doesn't quite work, does it?)  Nevertheless, the answer is a resounding yes.

You can read about Sam if you would like (and see how Lindy resembles her somewhat) and why we loved her so much.

Friday Foto - Getting a Look at Lake Anna.  Even though we have lived here full-time for almost 19 years now I never get tired of going out on our tritoon looking at houses.  Naturally I have my camera with me when I go.  This is one of the photos I took in the early spring before the trees filled out.

Early spring is a great time to get a good look at the waterfront homes.  Although this house would be very visible even in the summer there are many others that play hide and seek depending on the time of year.  When there are hardwoods between the lake and the house the views of the house change from season to season. 

Loving Lake Anna the way I do, I don't care about the season so much.  To me, it is beautiful all the time.