Summer Heat Wave

Tired of hot summer days? Want to get away to the mountains where its cooler? Then maybe it’s time to visit Haley Farm B&B. You know Deep Creek Lake is where the rich used to vacation before the invention of air conditioning. The temperature is in the low 80s this weekend – I’m sure that’s cooler than where you are – and there is always a cool breeze.

The first time I visited Deep Creek Lake was in July 1993 and I was mesmerized by how beautiful it was. The lake and the mountains reminded me of Switzerland but of course on a smaller scale – the Allegheny Mountains are not that tall. Even after all these years I am still awed by the natural beauty of this area. Just a couple of weeks ago I went on a hike along the Greater Allegheny Passage. This trail is quite lovely and finding wild blackberries along the way was an added bonus. I met a group of bikers who had started their journey in Pittsburgh and were headed to Washington, DC. The trail is at nearly level grade and follows winding rivers, shaded valleys and traditional small towns. It’s definitely worth exploring.

We also recently had our annual visit by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO). They always play at the Wisp and the backdrop of the mountain is a lovely setting for their music. They ended one evening with John William’s theme from Star Wars. We walked out with the music still reverberating in our heads and were greeted by a full moon! A fitting end to a lovely evening. The PSO perform here every July – one more reason to come to Deep Creek Lake.

Another reason I love summers here is because right after the 4th of July celebrations (parades, marching bands, fireworks etc) we have the Chautauqua. Before I moved here I wouldn’t have know what that meant either. But it’s basically a living biography of a historical person. In the old days they used to hold these performances at Mountain Lake Park. But ever since I have been here (1993), it’s been held at the college under a big marquee. This year we had Jefferson Davis, Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman. In past years there have been performances by Coco Chanel, Julia Child, FDR, Frederick Douglas and many more. It’s always interesting and it’s free. In fact we have a lot of free stuff you can take advantage of in the area. There are Friday night concerts in Oakland with varied musical entertainers and Wednesday evening concerts at the Wisp – just bring a chair. There are food vendors or you can bring your own picnic.

Coming at the end of the month (July 30-31) will be the Artists Studio tour where you can go and visit local artists and see and buy unique art creations. Some of the local artists painted 20 life size wooden bears and these are scattered around the county. You can go to the Discovery center at Deep Creek Lake State park and pick up a booklet with a map showing where the bears are located. If you get a stamp from all the locations you will be eligible for a prize.

The week after (August 5-6) will be Friendsville Days. I went to this last year and the parade was really quaint and was followed by musical performances at Friendsville Park. But all summer I look forward to the county fair. It’s got something for all ages. I love looking at the animals (pigs, rabbits, horses, goats and sheep), as well as the giant zucchinis and pumpkins. I also love eating the rotary fries and funnel cakes - these foods just taste better at the fair. There are also carnival rides and tractor pulls. The fair will be held August 14-20.
And after that there is the Art and Wine Festival and the Savage Man Triathlon in September. So you can see not only do we have gorgeous surroundings, but also lots of fun activities. We hope to see you soon so that we can pamper you with our great food and hospitality.

Another thing you might want to check out is my cooking video. Just go to YouTube and search for "Cooking with Kam" or you can follow the link to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnKB1kMFaEo
I'd love to get some feedback on what you think of them.

Wishing you much joy and happiness,
Kam Gillespie