• WELCOME

  • ABOUT

    • LAKE
    • BOAT
    • FUN
    • FAQs
  • CABIN

    • INFO
    • AMENITIES
    • FLOOR PLANS
    • WALKTHROUGH
  • RESERVATIONS

    • BOOKED
  • BLOG

  • FOLLOW

  • CONTACT

  • More

    Use tab to navigate through the menu items.
    CALL
    GO TO CALENDAR
    • All Posts
    • Family
    • Vacation Rental
    • Things to do
    Search
    Lakefront Vacation Rental Makeover Time
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Feb 20, 2020
    • 2 min

    Lakefront Vacation Rental Makeover Time

    It seems quiet here. But it has been anything but quiet. It's been a trip or three or four to the lake! We didn't have an overwinter renter for the first time since owning the house. So we are taking full advantage of the time to kick off our lakefront vacation rental makeover. And I mean FULL advantage. You'd think the Clampett's had arrived. I had to make a list we have done so much in such a short amount of time. I feel the house is finally hitting its stride. Things are f
    58 views
    Lake House Renovation Progress
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Apr 20, 2019
    • 2 min

    Lake House Renovation Progress

    Home again, home again. It was a whirlwind trip once again to the lake house. Kids spring break and just in time to catch the last of the deck construction. This has been a great project for the lakehouse. It will make vacation renting so much better for our guests. The first night we put plywood against the railings that weren't finished so we could just sit out on the deck and see what it will be like. The boys helped build the swing. In typical NC weather, it was got cold
    64 views
    All decked out
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Apr 12, 2019
    • 1 min

    All decked out

    Here's the latest. It's official we have completed the decking all the way around the house and the lower deck is also complete. Bring on the railings! #LakeJames #LifeisGoodCabin #VacationRentalRenovations #LakeLife #ShowingTheCabinSomeLove #2019SeasonKickoff Catch up with all the updates from the start: Old Deck New Deck - Day One New Deck - Day Two New Deck - Day Three New Deck - Day Four New Deck - Day Five
    45 views
    Wraparound
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Apr 11, 2019
    • 1 min

    Wraparound

    The latest image just in. The wraparound is connected all the way to the other stairs. Mr. Tony said that the wraparound should be complete tomorrow and then railing time! We widened the deck near the back door so you don't have to step around the door and almost off the deck to get in the house. It's the little things. So great to see the progress, step by step. #LakeJames #LifeisGoodCabin #VacationRentalRenovations #LakeLife #ShowingTheCabinSomeLove #2019SeasonKickoff Catch
    35 views
    Turn and Burn
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Apr 8, 2019
    • 2 min

    Turn and Burn

    John and I refer to these trips as 'turn and burns'. You are in the car longer than you are at the place you are traveling to. Well, I left 3 am Saturday morning, sans children, to do a pre-run of new stuff for the cabin before we head out next week for spring break. Artwork, furniture, stereo... (an excuse to go see the deck in-person). This cleared out about half my garage and guest room where it's been for the last three months and I was tired of tripping over it. I got in
    33 views
    Ohhhhh more progress!
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Apr 5, 2019
    • 1 min

    Ohhhhh more progress!

    Mr. Tony sent the latest images of the deck progress. You can see the new upper deck in place plus the two foot extension towards the water and the new left side addition. Who doesn’t like more deck? This new extension will allow better long range views down the cove towards the mountain. I cannot wait to take a cup of tea, sit in the rocker and stare off in the distance. Watch the mist rise off the lake in wisps. #LakeLifeGoals #Progress #LakeLife #DoesThisDeckMakeMyLakeLook
    20 views
    Progress!
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Apr 3, 2019
    • 1 min

    Progress!

    So I got a little surprise in my inbox this morning. The contractor, Tony Mc Grath, from Bay Harbor Construction sent me a teaser of the new lower deck. The old deck seems to be gone in just one day. They are already tearing right along on replacing it with new! I cannot wait to see it in person. Watching it remotely, counting down the days till I step out on my brand new deck. I am giddy with anticipation! Check out the progress. I will post more as I get them. #NewDeck #Lif
    37 views
    So it begins..​.
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Apr 1, 2019
    • 1 min

    So it begins..​.

    It's an exciting April Fools day around here! The Contractors have arrived and I see chunks of old deck streaming up the driveway like a line of worker ants, carrying away the old. The lumber truck has arrived and offloading the new wood to rebuild. I can barely contain myself! And this is only day one! #LakeJames #LifeisGoodCabin #VacationRentalRenovations #LakeLife #ShowingTheCabinSomeLove #2019SeasonKickoff #LakeSide #RememberYourWhy
    22 views
    How do you spend your christmas?
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Feb 28, 2019
    • 4 min

    How do you spend your christmas?

    If you own a vacation rental, when you finally get an open stretch of time at the place, it's never to relax. It's to fix, improve or attack a project that's on a super long, never ending list. Ours, I can't even see the end of, it's so long. On the one hand it's fun to have the freedom to just jump on a new project and see where it leads. Its another when you never take time to smell the flowers. Last year when we took our first solo long vacation at the house we spent less
    23 views
    Looking Forward (Finale)
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Dec 28, 2018
    • 4 min

    Looking Forward (Finale)

    [This is a series of year end posts about our year in review] It's been a big year for growth. And I am proud of how we have done and how far we've come. Learning lots of things. I am working on making us independent of VRBO/AirBnB/OTAs (online travel agents). What the heck does that mean, you say? The big boys are a monopoly. We can't get access to the first page of google as they have bought up all the online keywords. Despite diligent SEO optimization of the website and co
    41 views
    Changes (Part 4)
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Dec 26, 2018
    • 4 min

    Changes (Part 4)

    [This is a series of year end posts about our year in review] You can never go home again. I found that's true. I tried to see if things were the same. They weren't. Things always change. You can't stop it. So when we stayed at the house before we bought it I made a laundry list of things I would change. I could see from the guest's view. I didn't want to lose that perspective. So I kept lists. Lots of lists. It's hard. I am the marketer, advertiser, researcher, booking agent
    30 views
    Our First Trip - Continued (Part 3)
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Dec 24, 2018
    • 2 min

    Our First Trip - Continued (Part 3)

    [This is a series of year end posts about our year in review] The Lake. We wandered down the path with kids streaming out in front. Squealing with anticipation. It's a carolina blue sky. Big puffy white clouds. Birds are singing. Slight breeze off the lake. It's gorgeous. We round the bend and see it. Or don't see it as the case may be. The cove. The cove is nearly completely blocked. By a tree. The neighbors tree fell. Into the cove, crushing his boat house and dock. I had p
    29 views
    Epiphany (Part 1)
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Dec 21, 2018
    • 1 min

    Epiphany (Part 1)

    [This is a series of year end posts about our year in review] It started in 2015, we were invited to stay with my brother and his family on Lake James. I was 8+ months pregnant with our last child. Unwieldy is a term I would use for my condition. I waddled more than walked. We stayed in a home with gorgeous views of the mountains and right out on the main part of the lake. There was a small sandy area where I could beach myself in a chair and watch the kids play in the clear
    30 views
    Thankful
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Nov 22, 2018
    • 2 min

    Thankful

    When you start running your own business its hard to write the words that don't sound trite. Everything has been overused and loses any impact or sincerity. I am thankful. Not for the hashtag. Not for the instagram effect, but I am honestly thankful. John is currently whipping up a frenzy in the kitchen for our holiday dinner. The pies are already baked and it smells amazing in the house. Right now, our last guests of the season are probably doing the same. It makes me smile.
    9 views
    House of Champions
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Oct 15, 2018
    • 2 min

    House of Champions

    Where does the Number One team stay when they have a Dragon Boat race? Our most recent guest Carol and part of the team stayed at the Life is Good Cabin! Wait did she say Dragon Boat?!? Yup. Life is always interesting here on the lake. We have Dragon Boat races. What is that you ask? Good question. Dragon Boating is born of a legend. With a history of more than 2,500 years, the sport originated in ancient China. The legends include warring states, radical politics and fierce
    13 views
    Summer bucket list
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Jun 11, 2018
    • 2 min

    Summer bucket list

    Can you feel it yet? The crickets chirping, bull frogs croaking and the lightning bugs blinking slowly in the humid heat. Every year school lets out and within the first few days of their SUMMER, regardless of the actual date, I ask the kids what is on their summer bucket list. There are some doozies but as the years roll by, faster and faster, the lists have become more fine-tuned and targeted. It’s neat to see what the kids have on their mind to give themselves the Best. Su
    17 views
    Flood Levels
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Apr 25, 2018
    • 1 min

    Flood Levels

    The Upper Catawba River Basin is experiencing significant runoff from the recent rainfall. Lake James is spilling but not expected to exceed 102.0 ft. Lake Rhodhiss is also spilling but not expected to exceed 102.5 ft. Duke Energy operators will make gate adjustments at Oxford Hydro Station as needed for lake level management. Lookout Shoals Lake is spilling but is not expected to exceed 103 ft. We will continue to closely monitor lake levels and operate the system to reduce
    21 views
    Vacation Rental Shopping 101: How to Book a Vacation Home Directly with the Manager or Owner
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Mar 28, 2018
    • 2 min

    Vacation Rental Shopping 101: How to Book a Vacation Home Directly with the Manager or Owner

    Article from http://www.vrmintel.com/how-to-book-direct-vacation-rental/ The word is out. Airbnb, VRBO.com, HomeAway, and TripAdvisor charge fees to consumers. Unlike in the hotel industry, where the booking fees are passed on to the hotels, these sites are charging guests for the use of their online catalogs. And the charges are not insignificant with an additional 6 to 20 percent surcharge added to the rental rate, which translates to consumers paying hundreds of dollars mo
    7 views
    The Purpose
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Feb 2, 2018
    • 1 min

    The Purpose

    So I have been mulling over the idea of where to take the blog. Travel inspiration? Rehab follow along? Local insider info? Too many ideas. As my mother would have said you can't compete with China. So I should write to my strengths. We are new to the area also so I can't write that I know everything to do, but I can write as we discover places. We are a small, tiny, little dusty corner of the internet. So with that in mind I want to shape this blog like a journal. SPOILER AL
    14 views
    Life is Good indeed...
    Cabin Caretaker
    • Dec 2, 2017
    • 3 min

    Life is Good indeed...

    The origin story. John and I started searching for our little slice of life many moons ago. We purchased a camp in upstate NY, in the Tug Hill area. Not much to look at but it had running HOT water and at that time, that was more than enough. We spent lots of time there tearing up the trails on ATVs and building some of the largest bonfires I have ever seen. A 10 foot wide fire pit begs these kinds of challenges. John was more than up for the task. :). Soon family discovered
    36 views

    Follow Us

    WELCOME

    ABOUT

    LAKE

    BOAT

    FUN

    FAQs​​

    CABIN

    INFO

    AMENITIES

    FLOOR PLANS

    WALKTHROUGH

    BLOG

    RESERVATIONS

    BOOKED

    FOLLOW

    CONTACT

    • Facebook Reflection
    • Pinterest Social Icon
    • Instagram

    Contact Us

    EMAIL
    CALL

    Lake James in Nebo, NC 28761

    © 2022  fire walker designs