At least that is the legend around Norris Lake, just outside of Atlanta. Rumor has it that General William Tecumseh Sherman and his forces camped in the river basin that is now known as Norris Lake for a period after sucessfully destroying Atlanta and the extensive railroad system. It is highly likely to be true because the Lake is mostly surrounded by high hills and would have offered great protection and looking at a map of Sherman’s route, Norris Lake would have been right on his way from Decatur to Covingtonm and on to Savannah.

But regardless of what happened 145 years ago, we do know that in 1936 the No Business Creek, which feeds the Yellow River was dammed up to create Norris Lake, for the purpose of building a fishing camp for the harried city slickers in Atlanta. Tiny summer cottages and little concrete block boat houses were erected on the waterfront.

If fishing then was half as good as it is today, the developer had to make a ton of dough. Today, it is not unusual to tie-in to a 9 or 10 pound large mouth bass and certainly common place to take home a stringer of Brim and Cats in an hour or so. Recently the lake was stocked with stripped bass, a very popular sport fish that you are asked to release back into the wild.

Fish are just a small part of the wildlife population that helps you get away from the city. A bird sanctuary peninsula is home to about every bird native to Georgia, Canadian geese, Peking and Moscovi ducks and of course white tail deer. A family of beaver calls the No Business Creek home and Florida Soft Shelled turtles are quite common along with the usual painted turtles, snappers and Box turtles. Owls of all varieties, hawks, heron and egrets are everywhere.

Water sports abound at Norris Lake. It is the only lake in the area where you are actually allowed to “play” on the water. There are no horsepower limits on the lake so you can actually water ski, wake board, sail, swim or jet ski on the lake. With 96 acres of private water, there is room for everybody since only resident members and their guests are allowed boat access. On any typical summer weekend you seldom see more than 3-4 boats on the water at a time and usually they are slow poking pontoon party boats anchored in a raft near the center of the lake while folks young and old drift in the cool lake waters. There might be a wake boarder showing off his latest jump or fancy flip or some 8 year old just getting up for the first time on his own wake board. Jet skiiers and wave runners are welcome but very scarce for some reason.

Most of the old original fishing cabins have been dozed and new, spacious water front homes have been built in their stead. There is nothing comparable to leaving the traffic on I-285, going home to your waterfront home, uncorking a cold one and dropping a hook off your own dock and grabbing fresh bass for dinner. And the amazing part is that this hidden lake has not yet been discovered by Atlanta so you can still buy a waterfront home for under $150,000.

Situated just off SR 124 about half way between Snellville and Stonecrest Mall on I-20, you would never know the lake existed if you didn’t have a map. Just about 8 minutes to the new Wal-Mart Super Center at Centerville and the Publix, Norris Lake is only 15 minutes from Stonecrest Mall and downtown Snellville and Conyers. Except at early morning drive time, it is only about half an hour to Buckhead. Country living doesn’t get any better than Norris Lake.

Most of Norris Lake is in Gwinnett County, so most of the children are part of the award winning Gwinnett School System. A brand new elementary school is presently being built on SR124 right at Norris Lake Road and is supposed to open next year.

The increase in the sales of concrete fountains for patios, backyards and garden proves this point. The sale of indoor fountains too is on the rise. Yes, fountains today come in all shapes and sizes ready to be installed anywhere, even on your office desktop, on the walls or even as partition walls between two rooms. Thus, you can have a little bit of nature in your small apartment, if you so wish. However, fountains look much better out of door, under the open sky surrounded by plants and trees even if the trees are potted in planters. If you do not like wasting water, rest assured not much water is lost because it is mainly cycled with the help of a pump that is located inside the fountain’s water reservoir.

Buy a fountain to fill up an odd corner. Let the sound of running water soothe your nerves. They are a treat to the eyes and music to the ear and much better than figurines or other statuaries, which may be beautiful to the eyes, but can never touch the heart. As I said before, fountains come in all shapes, sizes and makes. Therefore, going for a window-shopping before actually making the purchase is not a bad idea. The Campania fountains with their distinctive designs and unique patinas should top the list. You can either go through their online catalogues or can get the address of their nearest dealers from their website and visit the shop yourself. The last thing you need to worry is about installation. You can do that yourself or you can get professional help to that for you.

Pick up the fountain that blends with the existing set up. That is the key to success. Every article you buy need to blend well with the surrounding. Very big concrete fountains in small patios will not look well. Likewise too small a fountain in too big a garden will lose all its appeal. Therefore, decide the location first and then pick up the one that is most suitable for the position. If chosen with care, a fountain can carry the whole place upon its frail shoulder. If you think that is an overstatement, read on:
•    Placed indoors, a fountain with the sound of running water can dispel all the gloom from the rooms. No sound of music can be sweeter than the sound of falling water; no work of art can surpass its sheer beauty. A sculpture can be just beautiful, but fountains are work of art that can speak. You only need to listen.
•    Placed out of doors, in backyards and gardens, they make outdoor living more inviting. Now that there are fountains with every conceivable designs and sizes, finding one that suits the existing set up is not at all difficult. Alternately, you can make it the focal point and develop the décor round it. Either way, place some comfortable chairs within hearing distance so that you can enjoy the music that has inspired poets and composers since eternity.
•    Close your eyes and listen to the music, although if they are Campania Fountains you will not want to. Their sheer beauty is enough to drive away all the tiredness from you. Relax with the tinkling noise in the background and soon you will find that all the stress and bitterness has vanished. A spa can refresh you body, but a fountain can refresh your mind and tiredness can never take root in a refreshed mind.

Indeed, a fountain is the key to every kind of decoration, be it for the interior or for the patios, backyards or gardens. Yes, you can buy beautiful furniture, statues or other accessories like planters, birdbaths and bird feeds, but they should complement the fountains only. They themselves can never be the focal point of the décor. For that get a Campania, they are the best. Their concrete fountains are affordable and yet are unique in design. Moreover, no two Campania are similar because of the way they finish their products. Truly, Campania Fountains can make your garden one of its kind. They are that powerful.

Aside from obtaining the refuge, durability and defense that only hard things can impart, real homes are also able to resist typhoon and twister force winds, are hardy to part, fire, water wound, copse rot and insect infestation.

Maximum energy efficiency could be obtained in a pure real home; you can do your part to help the environment and demote the strain on swiftly depleting true funds simply by purchasing a stable certain home.

Built fanatical for the alarmed Florida home buyer

With very active twister seasons in 2004-2005, and yet another active spell probable in 2006, it is not surprising that the common of Florida residents and those seeking to re-locate to Florida have hurricanes at the vanguard of their minds. It is smart and responsible to be troubled about, and arranged for hurricanes. Nevertheless this doesn’t mean that you have to evade living in Florida to be nontoxic from severe survive.

Its no coincidence that genuine, steel reinforced existing is the most usually worn house textile for nontoxic rooms and tragedy shelters. If you erect or acquire a home made with steel-reinforced specific, you are awfully increasing the chances of your home withstanding a Category 4 twister like Katrina or Rita.

Recent tests conducted in simulated 250 mile per hour winds, with projectiles itinerant at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, showed that fixed tangible homes were able to withstand these conditions and linger structurally intact.

Solid existing construction offers water dense protection against leaks and toadstool that are regularly a consequence of storm spoil.

Fire shelter

Solid, poured existing homes are also defiant to section and fire. This form of firm will not burn, soften or bend. Solid, poured actual parapet are dense and combined released, which prevents the mushroom of fire. Concrete offers a colossal gain over woodland framed homes in the occasion of a fire, as fire is not able to hang as promptly through a real home. The gives the distinct home holder priceless time to get themselves and their loved ones to safety should a fire rout out.

A better for the environment and your wallet

Energy expenses have spiked to unprecedented levels of belatedly, and there is no relief in view. A firm actual home uses thermal group and light reflectivity to expand energy efficiency. By absorbing intensity during the upper daytime temperatures and releasing the accumulated cook during the cooler nightfall hours, the tangible home will be less costly to cool in the summer and reheat in the chill. If you want a home that is environmentally gracious, then textile is the structure notes for you!

If you are concerned about the environment, then poured distinct is the building relevant for you. Concrete is made from some of the most plentiful property on this globe, and there are no lethal bi-food. The solid industry also recycles and reclaims equipment throughout the real manufacturing manage.

Due to global need for woodland and an imperfect fund, timber prices for builders and home buyers are some of the peak ever. Using a material that is in high query but has a slow darn means also has a larger effect on the total environment. Concrete solves this hindrance by using abundant and gladly unfilled resources!

Minimal misuse generated by the construction of distinct homes also reduces the brunt on part landfills.

Minimal maintenance costs

With a solid material home, the home landlord never has to disquiet about copse rot. This is often a very steep repair for copse framed homeowners. Since actual is an unappealing material to insects such as termites, existing homes will not require costly extermination treatments due to insect infestation.

Pouring actual: the beauty of depth

Since solid can be poured into any smooth, the construct possibilities for your new Florida home are endless. Concrete could also be enclosed with you’re excellent of superb outside resources, with wood, gemstone, brick, siding and stucco. Interior bulwark and floors can be roofed with all paradigm carpet and barrage cover resources.

Energy effective, environmentally sociable certain construction makes for a sound investment in you’re upcoming and your environment. Tough, resilient, well made, powerful, hard irksome, enduring concrete provides the safety, security and protection that home buyers are looking for.