My Lakeside Paradise
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Now that the warmer months of the year are here and we are spending more time outdoors, I am enjoying adding a little bit of style to the outside of the house.
The warm weather season started here in South Carolina back in April. Since then we have been enjoying as much time as we can outside. Ed and I work inside the house most of the day, but make it a point to get out and enjoy eating our dinner outside.
The previous owners left us a picnic table in the yard that we use when we entertain. We also have a gazebo where we placed the the deck dining set from our previous house.
On the deck that wraps around the lake side of the house we have a round table. This is where I usually eat my lunch. It is sometimes hard to get back to work when I do this. :-)
With the many table choices we have though, we find most nights we like to casually dine around this fire pit that we created last fall.
We usually grill some fish or meat, corn on the cob and a salad. I keep things simple and use what I call my “summertime dinnerware” which is a set of melamine plates and acrylic glasses. On the table I keep a TIKI® Brand Firepiece. It stays on the table so all I have to do is remove the burner cover and light it to create instant ambience for our alfresco dining.
I was introduced to the TIKI Brand Firepiece system last summer. When lit they add instant ambience to the surroundings without adding any smoky or sooty mess or smell. We enjoyed them so much that I was excited to see that TIKI® Brand came out with new Tabletop Firepiece styles this year.
If you are unfamiliar with the TIKI® Brand Tabletop Firepieces, they are different from the iconic Polynesian style torches that first made it into our backyards. TIKI® Brand has reinvented fire when they created the TIKI® Brand Clean Burn system that includes the Clean Burn Tabletop Firepieces and my favorite part of the whole system… the Clean Burn Torch Fuel that is plant-based and creates a brighter flame that has no smell when burning which makes it dining friendly.
This new metal Tabletop Firepiece design was created with a flame shield. The design helps to protect the flame and illuminates the intricate cut out design when lit. I have the gun-metal finish, but it also comes in a turquoise wash finish.
The Tabletop Firepieces are so easy to use. You simply pour the TIKI®Brand Clean Burn Torch Fuel into the Roundwick™.
Then light. One fill will last 3+ hours. One bottle of the Clean Burn Torch Fuel provides 24 hours of burn time.
This Bronze Ceramic Tabletop Tabletop Firepiece adds just the right style to our low dining table.
The stones inside make it look very Zen-like. Which adds to our leisurely meal, time to relax and…
…enjoy the reason we moved to live on a lake.
You can see all the Tabletop Firepiece styles and buy The TIKI Brand Clean Burn Tabletop System, here.
For $5 off when you buy the Clean Burn Fuel and a Clean Burn
Firepiece, check that out HERE.
Now it’s priceless to find a pearful corner at lake side. I love to have a house near river
Hi Izabella – You sound like I did. I think when we want something so much and focus on it…it can happen. I am living proof that it does. So keep dreaming of the house near a river. :-)
I just purchased several of the Tiki Tabletop firepieces and I love them. My favorite part is that it does not smell or smoke on my screened patio near the pool. The ceramic one with the rocks is my favorite.
Hi Diane, I read your blog with longing! I live in Charlotte, and feel totally land-locked after growing up on Long Island, then living in south Florida for most of my adult life. Yes, I am a half-back, as we are called often! I dream of living on a lake like yours in the future, but definitely not Lake Norman, you’re so right about the congestion up there. Anyway, just wondering – is the Tiki fuel also a bug repellant (aka Citronella)? Bugs are an issue here in the “woods”, especially with all the rain we’ve had this spring!
Hi Betsy – I had never heard the term before… halfback. :-) I hope your lake living dream comes to life for you…sooner than later too. :-) As far as the TIKI torch fuel. The Clean Burn fuel is not for bugs, but to add a clear bright sooty free flame for ambiance. If you want to deter bugs, you can use the TIKI Bug Biter fuel in any of the torches.
Oh boy,, do I ever envy you that wonderful setting! I would want to sit out there all day if I lived there! I’m happy that two seemingly wonderful people have such a beautiful place to retire. Did I say, “retire”?…… Not you two! I’m sure you’ll be doing many more projects for years to come! Enjoy it all, and the firelit dinners, too! It looks so peaceful!
*sigh* I’m not in the least bit envious. You and Ed really have settled in THE most beautiful location, Diane! Now I wonder whether the Tiki Tabletop System has made it across the puddle! Enjoy the summer. Sue x
Hi Sue – We feel very lucky to have found the house and its location. Our timing was just right. I am not sure if TIKI Clean Burn and Table Firepieces are sold in the UK or not. That is good question. I will see if I can find out. I know you can but it on Amazon. Cheers to an enjoyable summer!
Hi Diane,
I love all your outdoor sitting areas. I would be outside all the time. I am going to purchase the Clean tabletop fireplace w/ flame shield in turquoise : )
Have a great day!
Hi Terri – Thanks – I love that turquoise firepiece. It looks like it is chalk-painted. TIKI really has quite a few stylish designs this year. I still use the ones I had last year. They hold up very well. Enjoy yours! Happy Summer
Diane, I followed your blog when you lived in your other house & I remember you looking for which lake to buy on. Do you mind sharing the name of the lake you live on as well as other lakes in NC or SC that had more affordable real estate when you were looking? We are hoping to get something on a lake in SC r NC and don’t know where to start. We drive by Lake Norman near Charlotte every time we go home to GA but it is so expensive and pretty built up. I would love to learn from your research if you don’t mind sharing!
Hi MK – We looked at many bodies of water that included lakes, rivers, and sounds. Lake Norman was on our list and we did look at 3 houses there but after sitting in heavy traffic to get to all of them we told the real estate agent that it was not the lake for us.
Other places we looked were a few towns around the Pamlico and Albermarle Sounds in Virginia and North Carolina, Lake Keowee,SC – Lake Hartwell,GA – Smith Mountain Lake, VA and where we live… Lake Murray in SC. Keowee was very nice, but more expensive and hilly. Most views from the homes we looked at looked into the trees and you needed a little sled on a cable to get things down to the lake. Lake Norman was too crowded, Smith Mountain Lake was a little too far north and does get snow and you need to winterize boats. We wanted a flatter lot with a good water view and found that at Lake Murray in SC. Lake Murray is in the middle of the state. It has a busier side – Irmo and Lexington and a rural side – Prosperity and the southwestern section of the lake. We live right in between. I would suggest going online and taking a look at sites like: LakeHome.com You can put in a search for NC and SC lakes and it will list them. It lists every lake around and will give you a good idea about the lake itself and price ranges of the homes and properties. Happy lake house hunting. :-) The Real Estate agents we used were terrific. If you plan to look at Lake Murray, check out Ken and Kathy Mason at: masonteamrealtors.com
Wow!!!! I love it!!! So peaceful!!! I would sit there in the morning with my coffee and in the evening with my wine. Definitely a paradise!!!
Hi Monica – I did do just that this morning, but with a cup of tea. And of course a glass of wine in the evening. I was drinking Pinot Noir, but now that it is getting hot, I switched to white. :-) The lake was very still this morning and the heat of the day was a few hours away. I enjoyed watching fish jump and the clouds roll by. A very peaceful start to my day. Enjoy your day.
Dear Diane, looking for some ideas, for my teen daughter’s party, I came upon your beautiful blog.I said to myself ”Yes!! This is a soulmate!!! ”My name is Lina and I ‘m Greek but I moved to Virginia 3 years ago. Thank you for the beautiful ideas !! Excellent job !!!
Hi Lina – Thank you so much! It is so nice to hear that you enjoy my blog. I love hearing from readers. Virginia is such a beautiful state especially out along the western side. Thanks for taking the time to say hi! Enjoy your daughter’s party. I am sure you will make it the best – pretty, fun and everyone will have a good time. :-)
Diane, you really do have a slice of paradise to enjoy. I love the idea of the tabletop fireplace. What a great idea when a firepit just isn’t practical. Cheers to many alfresco dinners!
Hi Diane – I love our firepit, but in the summer it is way too hot to have a fire. The tabletop firepieces I have are the larger ones with stones. They create quite a lot of light and add that fire pit feel without adding heat to the area. I hope you are enjoying dining alfresco at your home, too. :-)