Had some time to go out to the pond and work on Christmas Eve. The previous owner left a lot of 2' tall stumps that resprouted right where I want to build, and half were thorny bodark with thorny vines all in them \:\( . At least these are not as bad as 16" x 4' tall elms with 20' tall stump sprouts on the other shore. Foundation is next now that I can mow \:\) .
Peninsula halfway done:

Peninsula after:

View from site, still need to mow: