Good morning! Welcome to "Morning Musings".

Musings: to meditate, think, contemplate, deliberate, ponder, reflect, ruminate, reverie, daydream, introspection, dream, preoccupation, brood, cogitate.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Autumn Drive

Wanting to take advantage of the last warm day of Autumn color we put the top down on the Roadster and headed for the Western Maryland mountains.  I plotted out a route, checking "no highways"on Google Maps, and chose the southern route.  We'd head west through Maryland on back roads, cross the West Virginia panhandle, and finally back into Maryland. . . .
All this rigamarole was because of the mountains we would encounter--there was only one way to get across on the back roads.  I didn't take very many photos because there wasn't a good place to stop along the road most of the time, but I wanted to share the few I did take.  And by sheer happenstance I took a movie along the narrow mountain passage that made my heart flutter because it was so close to the edge with NO GUARD RAIL.  (As Ken noted, if we drove off the side of the mountain they wouldn't find us until Spring.)  And by happenstance I mean, I didn't know the camera was videotaping as you will see.  Here are the still photos I was taking while the camera was doing its own thing. . . .
When you watch the video you'll see the action pause for a moment--that was when the stills were being taken.  We brought along the iPad with its GPS program so we could see where we were.  There were so many changes in routes, we needed the back-up, although several times we were out of range for service.
Along the way we encountered chickens in the road and 30-foot high amusement park characters like Paul Bunyon in someone's yard, along with a mini-roller coaster.  Of course now I wish I'd said "yes" when Ken asked if I wanted to go back and take photos.  The reason I didn't is this was just about when I began to doubt Google's directions, and I was worried we were lost!  But we WERE suppose to be in Virginia--just for a little while--then back into West Virginia.


Just after noon we arrived at our destination--Penn Alps restaurant. . . .
If we are anywhere near this place, we stop for a meal or an afternoon tea/coffee break--and it's been a while.  I only ordered a cup of the German Vegetable Soup and a BLT because I wanted to save room for their Apple Dumpling later. This was our table by the window. . . .
On the premises is the Spruce Forest Artisan Village.  These cabins have all been brought here from elsewhere and used by resident artisans.  Only a few were in-residence that day. . . .
 This cabin was Alta Schrock's, the founder of Penn Alps. . . .
It houses Lenore Long Lancaster, Colored Pencil Artist. . . .


The Eli Miller Shed was built from components of a 19th century plank house near Springs, PA.  It houses the Metal Sculptor, Mike Edelman. . . .
 Here are several of his most unique creations. . . .
Markley House is the oldest house in the Village. . . .
It's the studio of Bird Sculptor, Gary Yoder. . . .
 Here are some of his creations. . . .
Winterbury House was originally a stagecoach stop. . . .
Lynn Lais, a potter, now uses it as his shop.  An addition has been added to the back where he makes his pottery. . . .
It was too early for dessert so we drove back into Grantsville to their Thrift shop we always go to.  This time I bought two $3 dresses and Ken found a replacement for our broken cheese grinder that we've not been able to find even on-line.  Then it was time to go back to Penn Alps for my Apple Dumpling!  We got the same table and same waitress.  I didn't tell her we drove 134 miles just so I could have this Apple Dumpling. . . .
Having satisfied my Apple Dumpling craving, we headed toward home taking the Interstate part of the way. . . .
 . . .because we wanted time to stop in Berkley Springs to look around since we hadn't been there in a while.  In the middle of town is the Berkley Springs State Park.  I think it has to be the smallest State Park, since it only takes up one block of town. . . .
This is where we saw George Washington's bathtub (click on link to see) that I mentioned in my previous post.  Then we headed home, tired, but happy with our little excursion even though most of the leaves were off the trees in Western Maryland.  As we got closer to home I realized we didn't have to drive all that distance to see colorful leaves.  This is what is in color in our own woods. . . .
These were all little "twigs" you get from Arbor Day Foundation if you join.  We planted them there with the intent of transplanting them when they grew a little.  As you see, we never got around to transplanting and instead ended up with a mini-forest. . . .
 The Burning Bushes are just beginning to turn. . . .
This tree stands alone in its colorfulness. . . .
At the bottom of our driveway are the twin pines the boys brought home from elementary school (more twigs). . . .
 Coming up the driveway. . . .
Looking back down toward the street. . . .You can get a good look at one of those pines on the left at the street. . . .
 Looking down one of the paths. . . .
 Berries. . . .
 And these flowers are still blooming. . . . !




.•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•
Take Joy!

10 comments:

  1. Spruce Forest Artisan Village is not a place I have heard of, Cathy. We have not been to this area that I can recall. Your Penn Alps apple dumpling certainly looks like it was worth the drive. How nice for you to plan an adventure taking advantage of the nice day. The leaves on your property are full of color. Love the directional post I don't recall seeing in your garden. Our mature crepe myrtle has been the only color in our yard so far. Our lot has mostly old oaks that are just beginning to turn. Of course the black gums have turned red and fallen and we've already added them to our compost. ♥

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    1. The sign post is at intersecting paths in our woods. It points to places we have family and friends as well as the places my fictional Poetry & Gabriel have been.

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  2. I'm always a little letdown when November comes in. October is my favorite month of the whole year and when November arrives, it means I have to wait eleven months for more October. Especially since in this neck of the woods, November usually brings the first snow too. Yuck. So it was good to see so much Fall still going strong. Brave little still-blooming flowers. Beautiful still-colorful trees. Luscious [and all appearances - massive] apple dumpling. And a movie to boot! PS - I definitely would have told the waitress that you came 134 miles for the dumpling. That's a true complement to them and how good that dessert is. We still actually have quite a lot of leaves left here right now. There's some tree around here - I don't know its name - that changes color very late. Keeps its leaves through the early days of December. Bright yellow leaves still thick in the trees at Thanksgiving [unless we get a windy rainstorm around that time]. There's a clutch of these trees lining the drive leading to the town library, down the road from me. Too bad more of the artisans weren't around at the little artisan village. Were you there on a Monday? I bet at this time of year, Monday is a day off for them, with weekends being so busy. Gee, I never even knew someone could be a colored pencil artist. Although, why not?? I love colored pencils and have about 100 of them in a big hurricane candleholder. I doodle with them every once in a blue moon. Anyway, another terrific virtual tour courtesy of you and Ken. Hope Olivia and her mom and dad are getting settled and enjoying their new home. I always steal a page from "It's a Wonderful Life" when someone I know moves into a new house. This began back in my early days as a teacher when I had a car loan and college loans etc etc. And lots of friends in their 20s getting married, buying houses and having housewarmings. And no extra $$ for gifts. So I began buying a loaf of good fresh bread, a box of Morton's Salt and a bottle of wine [originally, back in the day, it was a bottle of Welch's Grape Juice]. Along with a card that read "Bread, that this house may never know hunger. Salt, that Life may always have flavor. And Wine, that joy and prosperity may reign forever..." Hopefully everyone I've given this to knows the movie! LOL! OK have a great week and talk to you soon!

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    1. What held me back from telling the waitress how far we'd come was because I didn't want her to think me nuts! I could have made my own Apple Dumpling as far as that goes....but there's something about that place that I love, so I go back--which is unusual for me since I don't like going to the same restaurant just like I prefer circuit routes rather than retracing my steps. I'm glad you reminded me about the housewarming gift idea! When they finally get settled enough to have a housewarming party I will take them the "Wonderful Life" gift. Thanks, Janet!

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    2. Just a note to Janet: thanks for the clever housewarming gift idea; as a retiree on fixed income, I think that may come in very handy!

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    3. Cathy, I don't think the waitress would have thought you were goofy at all. I'll bet she would have been very complemented by the fact that you made such a long trip for that yummy dumpling. And Sharon, you're welcome. Nowadays I usually try to find a nice-sized general serving basket to go along with the bread, salt and wine. But it still can run me no more than $20 for the whole deal. If everyone at the party knows the movie we all repeat Donna Reed's line from the movie together. And then of course we follow-up with "Now, Mr Martini - how about some wine?" LOl!

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  3. Oh, what a fun day trip ... all those historic log cabins and creative artisans - not to mention the yummy food! And the glorious colors in foliage - I miss that here along the Gulf coast. Thanks for another enjoyable armchair travel event.

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    1. Sharon, I'm glad to hear you liked it. Thanks!

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  4. You were very brave to take the backroads! The artisan village must be fascinating to see. And that apple dumpling - it looked like it was worth all the miles you went to be able to get it! :-)

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    1. We often take back roads and sometimes end up on dirt tracks with deep gullies! It really is an adventure.

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