A little water, a lot of mischief
Back when Nutwood Commons Lodge was still under construction, the boys were working hard to build something more than a house. They were building a home, a place where friendship, laughter, love, and a little mischief could flourish.
And then came Acorn Lake.
Tucked away among the trees was a beautiful lake with water so remarkably clear that you could see straight down beneath the surface. It didn't take long for the boys to discover that this little piece of paradise was the perfect escape from a long, hot day of construction.
At first, swimming was simply a way to cool off. But anyone who knows the men of Nutwood knows that nothing stays quite that innocent for long!
Before anyone could say, "Who’s watching the tools?" the hammers were abandoned, the work boots were kicked aside, and the boys were making a beeline for the water.
And bathing suits? Well, those were apparently considered optional equipment!
The crystal-clear water provided a particularly entertaining discovery. Some of the boys learned that swimming underwater offered a rather interesting view of their fellow swimmers. Naturally, this led to considerable laughter, teasing, and accusations of certain gentlemen spending entirely too much time beneath the surface.
Nobody ever confessed to anything, of course.
But Acorn Lake became much more than a swimming hole.
It was a place where the men could relax, embrace, laugh, and enjoy the simple pleasure of being together. Affection came naturally in Nutwood. A loving arm around a shoulder, a warm embrace, or resting beside another man required no explanation. Love was something freely shared, never something that had to be rationed.
As the Lodge slowly took shape, Acorn Lake became part of the community's earliest memories. The walls of their new home were rising, but the bonds between the men were growing even stronger.
And if construction occasionally ran a little behind schedule because half the crew had disappeared into the lake?
Well, nobody seemed terribly concerned.
After all, the boys weren't just building Nutwood.
They were learning how wonderful it was to live there.
And somewhere beneath those beautiful, crystal-clear waters, Acorn Lake still holds a few secrets.
Although, judging by how clear that water was, perhaps they weren't very secret after all!
— From the Chronicles of Nutwood