I spent the last five days in the southern United States, and the further I drove, the more vibrant the trees became with autumnal colors. Trees where I live in Des Moines, IA are completely leafless this time of year, so the foliage views on my trip were a special treat. The south definitely has a charming way about it — mild seasons, mountains, lakes, tea — it’s lovely all around. So I can definitely see why Christina and Matt Shirley fell in love with a lakeside spot and have built their lives around their idyllic location.