Sunny Deep Creek August 25,2009

Dear friends:

Where can you see tractors doing a square dance, goats prancing, and sopranos singing opera arias? Why it’s Garrett County of course. Really I did all that last week and more. Not only that but I was also a judge at the annual Chili Fest.

This was my first time judging a chili contest and believe it or not there are a whole bunch of rules- it’s all done very professionally. I didn’t realize that chili has no beans in it. I am used to making it with a lot of beans but this was strictly meat. They had 9 entries for the green chili and 24 for the red kind. That is a lot of tasting. The winning prize was about $900 plus an entry to the World Chili Championship, so there was a lot riding on the competition. I think the chili I scored as No.2 was the winner, so my taste buds must be OK. The Chili festival is held at the WISP (where the ski slopes are) every year in August and they had musical entertainment and many vendors. The craziest part was the raw pepper eating contest. A whole bunch of people volunteered to eat raw jalapeno, habanera and serrano peppers. A few had to withdraw halfway through, but 2 eagerly munched away at the habaneras. One guy even drank from a bottle of hot sauce!

The county fair began the day after and was on for the whole week. If you have never been to a county fair, you really should try it. Ours has animals (goats, pigs, sheep, rabbits, cows, horses), yummy fair food (funnel cakes and rotary fries are my favorites), carnival rides, entertainment and of course those square dancing tractors. You can spend the whole day there and not spend a whole bunch.

At the end of the week I was lucky enough to attend a night at the opera at Our Town Theatre in Oakland. We had delicious appetizers and wine and three lovely singers entertained us with a range of music.

It’s almost September and that usually marks the end of summer, but September and October are just incredible months in Deep Creek. Days are still warm, but evenings are cool and the leaves start changing soon into those glorious reds and yellows. The Art and Wine Festival is coming up on September 12, and the Iron Man Triathlon the weekend after that. So please check us out in the coming months.

I am still offering a free two night mid-week stay for our soldiers who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq. So if you know someone who has recently served in Iraq or Afghanistan and deserves a free two night stay at the B&B please email me their particulars. I will select two soldiers every month for as long as our soldiers are there (I will need proof of their service). I hope for their sake that peace breaks out soon, but I am honored to able to show support for our brave men and women in this small way.

One of our guests described Haley Farm as "chicken soup for the traveler". We couldn't agree more. We want to be the respite from peoples’ busy lives. Here you can unwind, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and allow us to pamper you with great food and hospitality. So if you are in need of a little indulgence, why not head out our way. Even two days here will make you forget the traffic and bills you left behind.

Wishing you much joy, love and laughter
Kam

Summer in Deep Creek Lake

August 2, 2009
Dear Friends

I do hope that you are enjoying this beautiful summer. Are you aware that Deep Creek is where people have come for ages to beat the summer heat. The mountains, the lake and state parks (translating into cooler and less humid weather) make it a truly wonderful escape.

I do so love the flowers at this time of year. Everywhere you look there are flowers blooming - from the cheerful sunflowers at the B&B to the wild daisies and blue cornflowers along the highways.

Deep Creek has always been a great place to come to unwind and relax. If you like you can spend most of your time reclining on the hammock, playing games (Kubb, Lasso Golf, Horseshoes, Bocce are all available at the B&B), getting a massage, or going for a lazy boat ride on the lake. But for those of who want to make it an adventure there is so much more. At the Adventure Sports Center (ASCI) – it’s the world’s only mountain-top whitewater rafting course - you can really get your adrenaline pumping. It’s only 25 minutes from the B&B and they also have kayaking and rock climbing.

The County Fair is coming up August 10-15. I love this event – it reminds me of old-time-Americana with its carnival rides, tractor pulls, and those yummy food stalls with funnel cakes and other such forbidden foods. And soon after that will be the Art and Wine Festival (September 11-12). Whether you are a connoisseur of wine or simply enjoy it now and then, this is a wonderful festival to enjoy great wine and art. Moreover I will give you a 10% discount if you stay at Haley Farm during the Art and Wine festival.

There really is so much to do in the Deep Creek Lake area. Yesterday I went to see a production of Huck Finn done by the Theatre on the Lake company. It was really excellent and every year this team puts on three wonderful shows. The week before that I was in Cumberland and saw a moving production of Fiddler on the Roof. There is so much talent out here and you don’t have to pay Broadway prices.

Also last week I had the privilege of seeing Mary Ann Jung portray Amelia Earhart. She did such a wonderful job that I actually felt I knew Amelia (so much more than just reading a book about the person). Mary Ann is currently appearing at the Renaissance Fair in Maryland and so you may get a chance to see her there (but alas not as Amelia). I was so impressed with Mary Ann that I have asked to her to come to the B&B next April and portray Julia Child (a part she debuted a couple of years ago). So keep an eye out for this event - and I might even team up with her and give a cooking demonstration.

But even before that I am going to be hosting some fun retreats, details of which can be found on the website http://www.haleyfarm.com/ . The Girlfriends Getaway is September 25-27, 2009 (although in reality you can do this any time - it’s just a lot more fun with a group) and the Women’s Retreat is Oct 16-18 2009. So come for either of these retreats with your best buds, sisters, mothers or daughters and have a ball.

I am still offering a free two night mid-week stay for our soldiers who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq. So if you know someone who has recently served in Iraq or Afghanistan and deserves a free two night stay at the B&B please email me their particulars. I will select two soldiers every month for as long as our soldiers are there (I will need proof of their service). I hope for their sake that peace breaks out soon, but I am honored to able to show support for our brave men and women in this small way.

One of our guests described Haley Farm as "chicken soup for the traveler". We couldn't agree more. We want to be the respite from peoples’ busy lives. Here you can unwind, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and allow us to pamper you with great food and hospitality. So if you are in need of a little indulgence, why not head out our way. Even two days here will make you forget the traffic and bills you left behind.

Hope to see you soon,

Kam Gillespie