Welcome to Richland Chambers Video, tell us what you think!

This is our new "Welcome to Richland Chambers" Video.  Let us know what you think, we appreciate your comments!  Email us below...

johnteelremax@gmail.com or  julieteelremax@gmail.comjulieteelremax@gmail.com

Rescue the Rescue Boat on Richland Chambers is a Success!!!

Thank You to our great community for your generosity!! 

RC 287 Firefighters putting up a new sign, Thanks guys!!

Wow!! Thanks to everyone who donated! Thanks to all the volunteers for their unflinching hard work!  Thanks to all who ran the Poker Run!  and Thanks to everyone who showed up to eat, check out the auction and listen to the Band. 

Miran, Dwight and John cooking burgers

Our wonderful community donated, volunteered and participated.  There were 111 Poker hands played and we fed 190 hamburgers. The final total of cash donations, entry donations and silent auction proceeds was over $22,000.00. ALL of which went straight to 287 RC Fire and Rescue.

Volunteer Michael Landon grabs a burger

Darryl Medford of Fisherman's Cove Lodge generously donated a 9000 lb Hydro Hoist boat lift system and Northshore Marina has relocated the Rescue Boat Slip to the deep water end of the docks.  
Firefighter Miran Sedlacek said "We were flat on our rear, but now we are firmly on our feet!"

Volunteer Helen Arrowood on the "Floating Stop" during the run

RC 287 maintains and mans the only rescue boat on Richland Chambers Lake.  If you're in trouble on the water and call 911 these guys are the first responders. Julie and I wanted to do a Poker Run on the lake and when we learned of the Fire Department's need "Rescue the Rescue Boat" was born.  

Volunteer Mike Frankos calls the Poker hands

John Gantt of 287 RC said "We went out on a limb and took out a loan to buy the motor and fix the boat hoping for community support. It was a big risk but the community came through for us."  RC 287 Fire and Rescue is a total volunteer organization and they are funded only by donations and grants.  Without the fine people in our community they would not exist.

Click here to see the Sponsors 

We appreciate everyone who donated, I apologize in advance if I've missed someone

Hoping to be the lucky one!

So again a huge Thank You to everyone who helped make our first Fund Raiser a huge success. Also a shout out Thanks to my bandmates in The FOG; Vernon, Gary and Brad (who didn't realize this wasn't a paying gig). (They really didn't care)
Julie and I are hoping to make this an annual event to benefit the Richland Chambers Lake Community.

Checking cards, looking for the winning hand

Winning Hands

Chris and John Gantt

Having a good time listening to The FOG

Fun, Fun...

Yours truly 

The Rescue Boat

Life is Good on the Lake

The FOG back in action at Harbor Inn!
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Ok for those who know me, you probably know this story or at least parts of it.  I've learned to present a cliff notes version, so here we go..

On Oct 3, 2015 I had the unthinkable happen to me, I had a heart attack.  Why unthinkable?  I'm 52, very active, always busy still 30 years old in my mind and just never thought it would happen to me.  Thanks to God, modern medicine, helicopters and the incredible love and support of my family and friends I am now on the road to recovery. Hopefully in a few months I'll be back and in better shape than before.  

The afternoon of  the heart attack
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Oct 3_2015 myself and a friend, Michael Landon went out fishing on a Saturday evening.  We took off from the Shores and went to some spots on the south side of Richland Chambers to catch Sand Bass. We were catching fish and having a good time when I started feeling bad and then worse and worse.  Within minutes Michael started heading back to the dock. 

After an surreal 4 days or so involving an Air Ambulance ride, middle of the night procedure and several day stay in Baylor Hospital in Dallas, I was back home. I had survived.  

Sunrise on our boathouse one week after my heart attack
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There are lot's of reasons why I had a heart attack that I now understand. My lifestyle and particularly diet have changed.  Thanks to my beautiful wife Julie for her love, companionship and immense support that are making me heal. I'm also thankful for the outpouring of love and support from all my wonderful friends.  It has been incredible.  The first picture is from last friday night. The FOG was back and it was an absolute magical night for me. The place was packed and everyone was great. Kind of represents getting better I think... (a big thanks to my bandmates, Vernon, Gary and Brad)

Record high lake level for Richland Chambers
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When the lake filled last May the phone began to ring and the market picked up big time.  We had a whirlwind summer, doing almost  a year's worth of business in about 6 and a half months. It was wild. Thanks to all our clients first of all, and thanks to our staff and all the service providers who helped us get it done.  Waterfront home sales were very good and lots picked up some as well.  We also sold quite a bit of land last year in Navarro and Freestone Counties, some beautiful places.

Rehab on the boat dock
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When I went down  Julie stepped in and does what she does best, help buyers and sellers buy and sell real estate. She is amazing and took care of every detail of the things on my plate.
So I've been able to rehab at our home in The Shores, working as much as I could.

We did see a record lake level on Richland Chambers Lake during October. The boathouse deck was about 10" under water.

Finally feeling better, band practice with The FOG
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Now I feel better and am getting back to normal.  The market has started off very busy this year around Richland Chambers.  So it looks like we'll have a busy spring.  I'm looking forward to lake tours on the new boat and actually have one scheduled for this next Thursday afternoon. It is supposed to be clear and in the 70's.
Life is good on the lake....

Full Circle, first time on Michael's boat since that fateful night
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A rehab project with my son Parker's help
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First boat cruise after feeling better, two days before Christmas
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Happy New Year from Richland Chambers!!

Richland Chambers Spillway Memorial Day 2015

Happy New Year!
Wow! 2015 passed in an absolute blur.  The lake filled in May with the record 20+ inches of rain in Navarro County and we have been full since.  As soon as the lake filled up the phone started ringing and we had a whirlwind summer.  We spent a lot of time on the water with family friends and clients enjoying the lake, looking at property and catching fish.  2015 was incredibly eventful and with the New Year my "resolution" is to chronicle some of 2015 here in the blog an also keep up with what is sure to be a great and eventful 2016!!
Happy New Year!

The History of THE FOG

THE FOG Halloween 2014

THE FOG is more fun than grown men should have!

Last Friday night, Halloween night, THE FOG rocked the house at The Harbor Inn on Richland Chambers Lake.  The band was in fine form reuniting with a truly great player, Gary Poe on bass, playing and singing like only Gary can.  Cast Iron Songs and Torch Ballads entertained the loud crowd all night!

THE FOG summer 2012

  I have had the gift of music in my life as long as I can remember.  I grew up listening to LP's on the console stereo. Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Bing Crosby, Marty Robbins, Herb Alpert, Elvis and countless others played through that big cabinet in the living room.  As soon as I could I joined the band in school, eventually playing trumpet in a school sponsored jazz band complete with full horn section, piano, guitar, bass guitar and a heck of a drummer.   My friends and I always had a garage band which came in different forms, some more talented than others, each with it's own set of memories. I went from trumpet to piano, to bass guitar in those days.  Within a few years real life caught up with me in the form of marriage, kids, houses and building businesses so the music took a back seat, never abandoned, always alive in some measure.  

When we opened LakeSide Dreams I started playing with friends, old and new around the lake.  I had taken up 6 string and harmonica a few years before. Soon I began learning and relearning classic rock greats, The Beatles, Dylan, Fogerty, Clapton, my Texas rock roots: ZZ Top, Stevie Ray, Doug Sahm and many others.

  We started playing regularly at The Harbor Inn on Richland Chambers with Vernon Bryder on drums, Gary Poe on bass and vocals and me on rythym guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals and harmonica and usually someone on lead guitar. 

  I came across one of my first bandmates a few years ago and he said if the old band ever got together again we should call ourselves THE FOG, for The F'n Old Guys, (Four Old Guys, The Fabulous Old Guys...) So THE FOG was born.

Gary on bass, Vern on drums, John on guitar fall 2010

   Now we are about 4 years or so down the road and we have played most every 4th Friday night on the Harbor Inn stage.  We have had a lot of fun shows with lots of great players and singers sitting in. We've had lights, lasers, fog machines, a lot of dancing and some really good music. The band has gone through some changes over the last few years but it has never ceased to be fun, entertaining and sometimes surprising.  We have stuck to our roots of playing 60's and 70' rock and roll, songs every body knows the words to.

  

I hope THE FOG never grows old.  We always try to bring new songs and create some magical, musical moments for our friends, new and old, enjoying the the music we all know and love.

Now life is settling down some after building & opening RE/MAX LakeSide Dreams, enduring the Northshore Harbor experience, the kids all launched and re-launched and now most recently building a new house, moving and selling the old house...  Whew!!!  

 I appreciate my band mates, our fans and everyone at The Harbor Inn over the years for giving me a wonderful opportunity to share and enjoy the gift of music.

"Werewolves of London" THE FOG Halloween 2014

THE FOG with Debbie Carter December 2012 

John, Vern, Bobby Perry and Gary THE FOG 2013

Kevin, Vernon, John and Gary THE FOG Jun 2011

BTW,  for an explanation of "Cast Iron Songs and Torch Ballads"  Check out Bob Dylan and The Band 'Planet Waves' album.

THE FOG December 2012

The FOG at Lakeside Methodist Church Music Festival 2013

Todd Jones with THE FOG sometime in 2011

THE FOG with Curly Joe 2010

THE FOG with Lucy, "The Goose" and Kenny Carter 2012

Yours Truly Having fun...

Finishing can be challenging

Finishing the house is turning out to be a pretty good challenge.  It seems to be going on and on.  We have been redoing some things which always takes more time than if you did it the way you wound up wanting it in the first place.  Among other things we have been moving some light fixtures which means cutting out sheetrock and ceilings and delaying things.  Also we have had to move the plumbing for the vanities in the master bath, (missed by just a little bit).  All of these things do not sound like much but they wind up slowing down the whole process.  To anyone planning to build always think through every detail.  A good builder will help you in this process and speed things along.

'Big Chill' coming to Richland Chambers

Rooter says "Bundle up!"

Like most of the country cold, cold temperatures are here at Richland Chambers Lake.  I actually saw a boat trailer at the ramp at  FM 2859 late yesterday afternoon.  The temperature was already in the upper 30's and the wind was blowing pretty good so talk about a hearty soul!  It takes true adventuresome spirit to be out on the lake in this weather.  

So we all know to take the necessary precautions in freezing temps, right?  Cover the outdoor spigots, bring in or cover the tender vegetation and make sure you have plenty of firewood.
What other things do you need to know about Lake Life in the extreme temps?  On Richland Chambers a lot of people have lake-fed irrigation systems.  The pumps are usually located in the boathouse or on the shoreline, normally in an enclosure.  These systems are susceptible to the freezing temperatures.  They need to be drained prior to freezing weather.  Usually a drain plug or drain valve is located somewhere in the system.  Removing the plug or opening the valve is all that is necessary.  The system drains and you're set.

Also it is common for a boathouse to be equipped with fresh water for fish cleaning and things like that. The water supply should be cut off and the drain valve should be opened to drain this system as well to keep from having to make costly plumbing repairs.
The low tonight is forecast to be around 21 degrees, wow that is cold for us!  Bundle up

Richland Chambers Lake Home Construction P4 - mechanicals

Construction on our house on Richland Chambers Lake moved along during the summer and into the fall of 2013.
After framing and sheathing we moved right into the mechanical items; electrical, plumbing, HVAC,  central vacuum and spider mister system.  The electrical work, like everything else is very important.  There are a lot of decisions to be made about receptacle and switch placement as well as how many, what kind and where to put light fixtures.

 Don't forget about things like under cabinet lighting, doorbell, communications, speakers and home automation. Be sure to take into consideration things like trash compactor, ice maker, microwave, floor plugs and areas that may have concentrated electrical usage.  The floor plug for the living room was one of those things I neglected and had to go back and cut the concrete to do.

While I'm on the subject another thing we had to go back and do was the control wires for the garage door openers.  Whoops!  It all came out OK and was not that bad to go back and do.

We  opted for pex pipe throughout the house for our water supply.  This is the blue and red high tech plastic pipe that runs through the walls and crawl spaces.  Also the water supply comes in to a manifold that allows you to individually control the water flow to every opening in the house and isolate it in the event of a leak. We are installing an on demand propane water heater sized large enough to supply the whole house.   Some other things to consider about plumbing are hose bib placement, salad sink, wet bar, coffee bar, utility sink, floor drains and garage sink. Obviously not every home has all these things but it is far easier and cheaper to do them in the rough in phase of construction that after.

HVAC systems are just as critical as any other thing. This one thing will determine the comfort and livability of your home. Choose a contractor that is experienced and does not cut corners. Multiple returns help move the air through your home more efficiently, thus creating more comfort and efficiency.  Also use careful consideration about the placement of your air handler units as this will affect you in the future every time you have to change the AC filter.