We visited the lakehouse again in mid October, just past the peak color of the previous weekend. Autumn "falls" quickly up here. Now the ground is covered in crackling dry leaves, and the views to the lake and through the trees are much clearer. Here are a few shots to reflect the advancing season.


The water level of the lake has already dropped dramatically, leaving the stone shelf widely exposed.

The big, water sodden logs that extended into the water have been cut and moved (not "removed") where we hope to someday place a dock. It is now possible to walk a long way along the shoreline, the shelf that is completely submerged in the spring and summer.

The path up to the lakehouse from the shoreline will soon be buried in leaves.

Steps to lake amongst the leaves.

The lot is becoming more bare, with more clear views of the house and the lake.

Ferns have mostly died back, the green of the pines remaining.

Most of leaves are down now, giving ground the same "rust" look as the log siding.

The lot beside ours, view from GJ&P's windows.

Kathy and Grammy Jo enjoy the view.

Grammy Jo and Popi relaxing on Sunday morning.

The view out the Great Room windows from the loft.

Our visit to the lakehouse in mid-October, Columbus Day weekend, began with a very long drive, as a "fake" policecar stationed in the median in Hagerstown effectively slowed traffic to a crawl for 42 miles! Met up with Virginia and Dennis Carrai in Cumberland, where we directed them to go after they had waited several hours for us at Sidling Hill. The weekend weather was spectacular...sunny, high 70's and clear with all the trees at peak colors. It was "Autumn Glory" festival time in Garrett County, with all kinds of events going on. We walked early Saturday morning...not too long...and missed the DirectTV installer, who never called or returned our calls! So no TV reception yet!! Ginny and I visited the various craft fairs in the afternoon, while Dennis and Dennis chopped wood and "cleaned up" the shoreline of debris. Fantastic steak dinner, then watched "The Legend of Zorro" downstairs...perfect light-weight comical "fantasy western" to finish the night. Mass at the Honi-Honi bar (never imagined that not even a sweater would be needed for a morning outdoor mass in October at Deep Creek!) and a late breakfast at Annie's up in Accident. Dennis and Ginny had a long, long drive back to Mass., so they headed out, and Dennis and I took a relaxing hike at Swallow Falls State Park before packing up and heading home late. Following are batches of pictures that we took; hope you enjoy them...lots from Swallow Falls, but each view was prettier than the one before!




One shot of the leaves on the driveway just before we left.
We have plans to pave and landscape this area, so it might like this again!

Shot that I neglected to include later:
Dennis, Dennis and Ginny strolling up Spring Creek Lane on our morning walk.

The results of "back aching" work by the two Dennis's on Saturday afternoon!

The Lakehouse in mid October, 2008

A view of the house from Spring Creek Lane.

The trees are simply stunning.

Looking towards the lake from the driveway.

Carrai Visit to the Lakehouse, 10.08.08

Old Friends Dennis and Virginia from Mass. on the deck.

Ginny's sweather fits the season!

Standing along the fence with the lake behind them.

Mass at the Honi-Honi Bar, Deep Creek

9:30 am Mass in Deep Creek occurs outside on the terrace of the Honi-Honi Bar!

This friendly alligator sits on the roof above the temporary altar.

Virginia, Dennis P and Dennis C at Mass.

The view from the edge of the terrace towards the lake.

At Wildwater atop WISP

Dennis alongside the "wild river" rec park atop WISP mountain.

They were running the rafts this morning, so the water level was high.

Virginia and Dennis Carrai, long-time friends from Mass.

October at Swallow Falls

Sunday afternoon, October 12, 2008, was a glorious, sunny day with tempertures in the high 70's (the car thermometer read 83!!) We decided to relax for a few hours and make the easy hike along the paths to Swallow Falls and snap some shots of the "Autumn Glory" color. The water was very low, so we could walk out on the tops of the waterfalls, spots where we had not walked before. Following are some the casual pictures we took, just trying to capture the feel of the day. As nice as they are, these pictures can not capture the wonderful colors of the day!