Do you know your waterways?

You may or may not remember the old children's book, "Dick and Jane". Well, I do. I've used the same kind of retro-style for this cartoon. I titled it, " know your waterways". I remember trying to read the Dick and Jane books when I was in the first grade. I was one of those kids that liked the pictures better than the words because I'm a little bit dyslexic, which isn't bad due to the fact that I ended up with a lot of artistic and creative talent. Anyway, did any of my ten permanent follows notice something different about this post? No bobber cartoons!!! That's right, I'm taking a break from bobber cartoons for a while. I think it will be clear what I'm doing with this cartoon when you read it. Know your waterways........Enjoy!   

Now, you know your waterways...........Do you need a great gift for the lake house, lake lover, or fisherman? If you do, check-out my treasured decor maps ay LeoLakes.com. 

I call my maps treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. These maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes lake, river or bay maps, too. If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com.

Beautiful St George Island Treasure Map

I love lakes. rivers and bays, So much that I do maps of these beautiful places. Check-out my map of St George Island. Here's an email that I received from a recent customer who had ordered the St George Island Decor Map.

"Hi Larry,

Received my map & absolutely LOVE it!! It will be a treasured gift forever! The quality surpasses what I expected & I'm so happy I ran across your website on a search. Good luck to you & please know I will share your info & website with others." 

My maps make a great gifts, check-out these other comments from our customers. Oh yeah, you can star your beach house location and don't forget to look for the hidden mermaid in the waters of your favorite waters!

The map arrived right on time and it was a sensational hit.  Thanks so much, this was exactly what I was looking for and was even better than anticipated. Nate

I just received the map, it looks beautiful! Thank you for helping me put together such a spectacular gift and I will definitely keep you in mind for future gift ideas. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Arrived safe and sound this afternoon and looks great!  I can't wait to give it to my parents for xmas for their new lake house.  Thank you!

Go to www.Leolakes.com to see if we have your map. We have many popular lake maps such as the Lake Winnipesaukee map, Great Sacandaga Lake map, Lewis Smith Lake map, Pickwick Lake map, Greer's Ferry Lake map, Lake Sidney Lanier map, Lake Sinclair map, Table Rock Lake map, and Lake Wallenpaupack map. Also, we paint custom maps and have personalized maps for that special someone. 

Random fishing humor

Most may not know, but I do fistnig cartoons on occasion. Basically, I try to make bobbers fun again, like when you were a kid. Here's a few old, a few new, some good, some bad, but all in good taste..... sort of.   "Make Bobbers Fun, Again". 

This Bobber is for you.............enjoy.

Also, I paint beautiful lake, river and bay decor maps. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps makes the best gift for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. Check my website out: LEOLAKES.COM

Percy Priest Lake Memory

It was Saturday morning in 1967, I was a child, maybe about eight years old. My mom told me that it was going to be an exciting day. We were going to where they were building the new lake and we would be driving under the water where the lake would be. Boy did that excite me! I couldn't wait to get in our yellow 1965 Mustang and drive underwater, yes underwater. It would be just like the song " The Yellow Submarine". Well, not really, because that song wasn't released until 1969. A better visual is like the book "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". I dreamed of seeing huge bass swimming around and monster size turtles the size of Volkswagens paddling near, even better, ancient looking paddle fish with their long snout. My third grade buddies were going to be so impressed.

My dreaming came to an end as we loaded up the car and head toward the lake. The lake was to be named J. Percy Priest after a Tennessee Congressman. We didn't go near the dam for some reason. We headed to the back side of the dam were the deep water was. As we neared the lake, you could see some construction going on, mainly bulldozers with trees being pushed down. I remember seeing lots of open fields, but no water.

Finally, after an hour, I asked "when will we be going under the water?" My mom busted out laughing, she said "we aren't actually going under the water silly, we are going where the water will be in a few months, not under the water." I suddenly realized that I would see no huge bass swimming around or monster size turtles the size of a Volkswagen Beetle paddling near or ancient looking paddle fish with their long snout. It was a great misunderstanding and my third grade buddies where not going to be impressed. I was sad.   

Paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com. I paint beautiful lake, river and bay decor maps. Ain't she pretty! She's all dressed up in a beautiful frame and ready to go to that "lake house warming party". you will be so proud when you walk in with the prettiest gift at the party..........LeoLakes.com

Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. Also, you can personalize your lake map with a star where your lake house is located.  I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. Order soon to avoid the rush!

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Orders pick-up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

"Hanging a Leo Lakes Treasured Map in a lake house, is like christening a boat with a bottle of champagne!" 

Beautiful Lake maps for the lake house

Folks love their lakes! Here's the proof. Believe it or not, I have a lot of customers that send me photos of their maps hanging in their lake or beach house. I have added a few to my blog. 

They are beautiful! Hey, paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com for a beautiful lake, river, or bay map by me. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Growing up in the South......

When I was growing up in the south, it was traditional for a father to give his son a pen knife at a young age. The age varied, but somewhere between 9-12 years old. My dad was not unlike other southern fathers and at the age of 9 years old, my dad gave me a beautiful, pen knife with bone sides and was about 2.5" long. He said it would be useful for outdoor stuff such as fishing and was not a toy. He showed me how to use it. I was so proud that he gave me the pen knife, for about three days.

A few days later, I went down to my best friend's house, Rusty. I showed him my new shiny knife and he was amazed. Not to be out done, Rusty brought out his new, gray, plastic, jet airplanes. There was  three of those beautiful jet planes. Ooh, I lit up when I saw these wonderful toys. He suggested that we do a trade. His three jet airplanes for my pen knife. Immediately, I could see myself flying those planes around and they would go great with my little, green, plastic, army men. Sooo, I said lets trade.

I headed home with two planes in my pocket , one plane in my hand, and a big smile on my face. I started flying it up and down with the sound of a jet engine, vroom...... As I entered our yard, my dad was lounging in an aluminum, fold-up lawn chair. He saw me with my new toys. I heard him say, "son come here". As soon as I heard that, I knew that the trade was not a good idea. As I approached him, he said "where did you get those toy planes". At that instant, I realized that I was in big trouble. My little mind raced to come up with an answer. I had two choices, I could say that I traded the knife for them, which would have been true, but a huge disappointed to my dad and likely result in a spanking. The other option was to say that I found them, which he would not believe, but hopefully would not be disappointed, however I would get a spanking because he would think that I stole them. I knew that I had no good choice. So, I didn't do any of those choices, I remained silent, so silent, which was still a bad decision. He accused me of stealing the planes and gave me a big spanking. Then, he took the planes and tossed them in the trash. About that time, my mom yelled out the door and said............."Pie is ready"!

 So, it was a total loss, I received a spanking, the knife was gone, the planes are trashed, and my dad is angry at me. What did I learn? I learned that sometimes in life, you will end up in a "rock and a hard place", meaning there's no good choices, but pie makes things better.................  

Paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com. I paint beautiful lake, river and bay decor maps. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.   Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Just remember: "Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream".

Thinking about purchasing a travel trailer?

I've been thinking about purchasing a travel trailer to roam around the country and to visit more lakes. My current vehicle does not have the tow capacity to tow a nice size travel trailer. In fact, back in December of last year I bought a new vehicle that would fit the bill. I evaluated whether to purchase a pick-up truck or a full size SUV. I finally settled on a full size SUV because it is a bit smaller than a pick-up truck and easier for my wife to drive. Now, which SUV should I buy? For some reason, I was drawn to the Nissan Armada. It was like a moth to a flame, sort of.  Anyway, I purchased the Armada and love it.

After having it for a few months, I started wondering why I was drawn to it so strongly?  Was it because this vehicle met my needs and looked nice or was something else pushing me toward this SUV? Then I realized something, my new Armada reminded me of my father's old fishing vehicle, an old beloved 1957 Chevrolet Station Wagon. Little did I know, but I was really looking for a comfort vehicle. 

See it? Doesn't the 1957 look a little like the 2017 Armada? Now remember that the difference between these two vehicles are 60 years apart, but you can still see some similarities. Here's what I mean.   

It's red, it's wagon like, it has lots of chrome, both have a seven in the date, it has a fin, yes a fin...... See it now, sort of? This proves it to me, deep down I wanted a comfort vehicle. What is a comfort vehicle? I define just like comfort food, its any vehicle that provides consolation or a feeling of well being, typically any vehicle associated with fond feeling during childhood. No doubt about it, I had strong feelings for the 1957 Chevy and I guess this new vehicle called them up. They say, as you get older, you go back to your childhood, looks like I have.  Oh yeah, my daughter named the Armada. We call it "Abe" because the color so close to a new shiny penny.

Oh Yeah, I paint beautiful lake, river and bay decor maps. Paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.   Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Just remember: "Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream".

My special lure.....

When I was a young fisherman about 9 or 10 years old, I had a lucky lure that bordered on magic. When nothing was biting, it was my go to lure because it would always produce a fish, not necessarily a big fish or a prized fish, but a fish every time. This made a kid feel good and feel like a wizard fisherman.

You just don't know how lucky this lure is. Think about this, most kids end up losing their lures to trees, underwater logs or rocks, but not this lure. I still have this lure after 50 years. Do you still have a lure after 50 years? Now that's a special lure! In fact, it's such a lucky lure that I had to paint it in one of my fishing art pictures. 

Little did I realized it when I painted this picture, but I painted it as being lost, as shown by it being all tangled up on a stick. I guess the humor in my painting is the loss of my "special lure", which is not really lost, but is now my most beloved, "lucky lure". 

Oh yeah, I do beautiful canvas lake maps of beloved lake LeoLakes.com. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately seven years.Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Most folks add a star to a special place on the lake such as a lake house or where they caught that big fish.  

Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com.