Grae Drake

Grae Drake sat on the back porch at Dr. George Hardy’s Lake Martin home. In front of her was a grotto, sprawling with meticulously trimmed plants, lawn ornaments and stone decorations. To her right, Lake Martin was 30 yards away. A canopy of trees hung above her, creating a nook that blocked out external sounds, isolating her to the shade, to the sounds of small birds tweeting and insects chittering, to the smell of flowers and trees and plant life.

“I just sat out here on this porch for like, an hour,” Drake said. “Just sitting. It’s so different from where we live. And so beautiful. And I just love seeing it. It reminds me more of growing up in Colorado. So, this so nice. This is what people who live here experience every day.”