Canoe Harbor couple enjoys easy lake living and ‘slow cooking’
Story Scotty Vickery
Photos by Kelsey Bain
Barbecue enthusiasts all over Alabama have long debated the merits of smokers versus grills when it comes to cooking a perfect Boston butt, but Denise Robison has discovered another weapon in the longstanding battle: the slow cooker.
“I love anything in the CrockPot,” she said. “It’s just so easy.” Convenience has become especially important in the two years since Denise and her husband, Kenny, built their dream home on the point in the new Canoe Harbor subdivision on Neely Henry Lake. These days, there are fish to catch, sunsets to watch and peaceful evenings to enjoy.
“I just love it out here,” Denise said. “We stay outside constantly. I just love to sit out on the porch and look at the water.” Technically, though, the Robisons don’t even have to venture from the house to
enjoy the water. “There’s a view from every room, except for the closets and pantry,” Denise said. “It never gets old,” Kenny added.
When they are inside, they often take in the view from the open concept kitchen with its gleaming white cabinets, Italian Waves granite countertops and grey subway tile backsplash. “I knew what I wanted, but I had to find the right house plan,” Denise said. “I can be in the kitchen and when we have company, I can still communicate with everyone in the downstairs area.”
Decorated in crisp whites, creams and navy, the kitchen is the perfect backdrop for Denise’s ever-growing collection of Rae Dunn pottery. She’s been collecting the pieces – cream-colored plates, mugs, canisters, cookie jars, etc. – for more than 20 years. So far, she’s amassed more than 300 pieces, all of which feature single words or short phrases like “Yum,” “Let’s Eat” or “Thankful.”
“She even has Rae Dunn dog bowls,” Kenny said. “We’re on a first name basis with the UPS driver.” Denise doesn’t deny it. “I don’t have many vices, but that’s one of them,” she said with a laugh.
“I’ve been collecting it a long time. I’ve gotten my daughter and daughter-in-law hooked on it, too.”
Slower-paced life
After living in Trussville for more than 30 years and raising their two children, the Robisons first moved to the Greensport area about 10 years ago. “My daughter was expecting our first grandbaby, and that’s what got us up here,” Denise said. “They were in Alexandria at the time, and this is halfway. We really wanted to be on the lake, but at the time we moved, there was nothing available.”
The desire to be on the water never eased up, and when the opportunity to buy the property – just over two acres on the peninsula – came up, Kenny was immediately convinced. “I told her we better go get that lot,” he said. “You’re not going to find another spot on the lake like this, and if there is one, someone’s already got it.”
The Robisons were the first to build in the subdivision, which boasts 36 flat lots on the St. Clair County side of Neely Henry, an 11,200-acre body of water with 339 miles of shoreline. The development is a joint venture between Lyman Lovejoy and Chad Camp, both of Lovejoy Realty, and John Freeman of Freeman Land and Development.
The house, which has four bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, 15 gables and is situated on three lots, took about 11 months to build. One hidden feature that brings Denise and Kenny peace of mind is the storm shelter with reinforced concrete walls that doubles as the walk-in kitchen pantry. “When they laid the foundation, that was the first thing they poured,” Kenny said. “They built the house around the storm shelter.”
Although their lake house is less than 40 miles from Trussville, which they called home for more than three decades, it feels like it’s a world away. “I just love the peaceful feeling you have out here,” Denise said. Kenny especially loves the fishing and watching the geese, ducks and other birds. “They build their nests in the rocks,” he said. “It’s amazing to see them as they crack out of the eggs and are starting to walk,” Denise added.
Both of their children and four grandchildren now live within a few miles of them, so the couple added a pool last year. That, coupled with their two piers, covered patio and outdoor fireplace, make Denise’s slow cooker even more valuable since it allows her to enjoy family gatherings and still serve a great meal. “I cook a lot of Boston butts,” she said.
Even though they’ve been on the water for two years, the Robisons said they never take their easygoing lifestyle – or the views – for granted. They’ve discovered the merits of lake life can be summed up in the one word that adorns the dish towels hanging from the handle of the stove: Blessed.
“Sometimes I look around and think how lucky we are,” Kenny said.
“There’s no doubt about it; we’ve been very blessed.”
Smoked Boston Butt (Slow cooker)
5-pound Boston butt roast
2 tbsp garlic salt
4 tbsp Liquid Smoke
2 tbsp black pepper
1 medium onion, diced
2 tbsp seasoning salt
1 cup water
3 bay leaves
Rub roast with spices and Liquid Smoke. Place onion in
bottom of slow cooker and put roast on top. Add water
and bay leaves. Cook on low 8-10 hours.
Greek Coleslaw
1 pkg coleslaw mix
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 bunch green onions
1 tsp Greek seasoning
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and seasoning
in a large bowl. Add slaw mix and green onions and toss.
Fold in feta cheese and serve.
