In early January, during the winter of 2009, Ed and I visited Bonita Springs Florida. While there, we attended an art show, a very fancy art show on the Promenade Walk. I said, let's look for something for Twin Lakes, as we then called our building. I thought perhaps, something for over one of the fireplaces. It turned out to be a gorgeous art show, filled with all kinds of beautiful art, all very rich, elegant and very expensive!
We asked about a few paintings and a couple of pieces of sculpture only to be quoted prices of thousands of dollars. We settled into browsing and enjoying the day. As fate would have it, we rounded a corner and from a distance, we both saw this rusty old, smiling, happy dog in a red truck window and in the middle of this fine art show, we knew we had met "Twin Lakes."
We went closer, and the closer we got, we knew he was ours. I asked the artist, Dave Taylor, "If I buy your piece of art and name our restaurant after it, what would you call it?" He said "I don't know, I've never been asked a question like that before." With this, another artist from around a corner at his own booth, sitting on an old fashioned lawn chair with a big straw hat covering his face and his arms crossed over his chest deadpans "I'd call it the Windy Dog." We loved it! That's it!
We quickly called our partners, Deena and Tim, send them to the website to take a look and we have our okay to go ahead. We were so excited that we decide to carry the Windy Dog out of the art show and send him home UPS ourselves.
Well, in the middle of this fancy art show, with all kinds of elegance surrounding us, out we walk with our rusty old truck door with our happy dog in its window. We were stopped by so many people as we left, wanting to take a look and the one thing we couldn't help but notice was the smile on everyone's face!
You can't help but smile when you look at him. Back at home, it is the same reaction. I thought "Why?" and I realized it is simply about the simple things in life. Life is so complicated, it can be so stressful but in the end, it is about putting our heads out the window, allowing the fresh air to mess up our hair, enjoying the breeze, enjoying the day.
We hope we have created an atmosphere that encourages you to sit back, relax, enjoy your time here. Let us simply take care of you, put your head out the window and enjoy the moment. This is Twin Lakes to us and we hope it is for you as well. Thank you for welcoming us to your community.
Sincerely, your hosts,
Ed and Karen Loeschorn & Tim and Deena Slain
