Bucket Lists and Fallingwater

One of the things on my bucket list was a visit to Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece in Mill Run PA on the Youghiogheny River.  So on July 5 I finally visited after trying once a few years ago and being turned away because we had no reservation.  It appears at that time we got bad information at the gate because for $8.00 and no reservation you can do a self-guided grounds tour.  You can actually walk right up to the house, you just can't go in!  Wish I had known this 4 years ago.  I really would like to go back someday and see the inside of the house.  I think this would probably have to be in the Fall because as spectacular as it looked in summer, I can imagine that seeing it in the Fall would be awesome.

Wikipedia has a nice write-up all about the design and building of Fallingwater.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater

Finding This Great Bakery Was No Accident

On my recent vacation to Deep Creek Lake, I found this lovely little bakery named the Mountain Flour Baking Co. in the town of Accident, Maryland.  Accident is a small town in Garrett County which, according to Wikipedia, has a population of 353 as of the 2000 census.  Wiki also says that residents of the town are called "Accidentals" which I didn't know.  I have traveled through this town many times as a kid visiting my Mom's hometown and it's name always made me giggle but I knew when we got to Accident we weren't far from Grandma's. 

Anyway, back to the bakery.  I stopped by this place because I had a craving for some sweets.  You definitely can't miss it since it is right on Main Street, has a large "OPEN" sign and is flying a large flag outside.  So everytime we drove up Rt 219 going somewhere we would pass it and my cravings were getting stronger each time. 

The bakery is small inside but offered some large temptations.  I pulled out my camera and began to photograph some yummy looking cookies.  People look at me funny sometimes, but hey, I take my camera everywhere especially when there is food involved.  I was greeted by a nice lady behind the counter named Bird.  She told me the bakery is under new ownership and gave me a flyer with all their items on it.  I was quite surprised to find out that they even have artisan breads which are right up my alley but I never expected to find this far west of Whole Foods or Wegmans territory.  They offer a ton of different cakes, cupcakes, brownies, bagels, donuts, cheesecakes, bread pudding and much more, Oh My!  She even brought out a fabulous fresh-baked cherry pie while I was there which looked so heavenly.  Their website also says that they feature beautiful wedding cakes made by owner Christine Cornish Lewis.

I tried a few things, one of which was this fantastic peanut butter ball covered in chocolate (better than Reese's), some nice soft chewy chocolate chip cookies and snickerdoodles and an apple fritter so good like the ones at the Amish farmers markets in Lancaster PA.  I was there a little late in the day and sadly the cupcakes and a lot of the pastries were almost sold out and I do regret that I didn't have a chance to stop there again before leaving Deep Creek.

I wish the Mountain Flour Baking Co. a whole lot of success with their business because I sure do want to stop in there again and try some of those cupcakes that I missed and get a big box of those peanut butter balls to take home because I haven't seen anything like them around Baltimore.  Keep up the great baking and I will see you on my next trip to the mountains!

http://www.mountainflourbakery.com/

Snack Heaven at Utz Factory Store

Yesterday was the President's Day holiday and a beautiful day for taking a road trip.  Hanover PA is only about 30 miles away and is the home of the Utz potato chip factory.   I would have loved to have taken a tour of the factory, but that will have to be another trip with more time to spend.  Yesterday was mainly a shopping trip to the Utz Outlet Store to stock up on snacks.  Utz makes the best chips (in my opinion!) and has a variety of multi-flavored potato chips, cheese curls, tortilla chips and a large selection of pretzels at the outlet for prices much lower than grocery stores.  They also have chocolate covered pretzels and chips.  Sorry, I am not quite that adventurous to try a chocolate covered potato chip.  Ended up spending about $30 and have enough snacks to last about 6 months.  And just when I thought I would get back on my diet!

              

My First Win

Anyone who reads my blog has probably figured out by now that I love photography and it has become my all-consuming hobby.  I bought my Nikon DSLR a few months before I retired (and while I still had overtime).  One of my retirement goals to learn all that I could about digital photography and post processing.  Now, I have been "into" photography for most of my life, starting with my Kodak Brownie camera when I was about 10 and still own two Nikon film cameras but digital is a fabulous new ballgame.  Wow, remember the days when you didn't know what was on your roll until you got it developed?  I would send my film away in the mail to be developed and then tear open the package excitedly when it arrived just to be disappointed in how the photos turned out.  I used to say that I could take 50 pictures and maybe get one good one!  No more, LOL.  If it sucks, it can be deleted immediately.

I bought my first digital point and shoot in 2005.  Bought a better one in 2008 and learned a lot with those two.  I took a nature photography class from a local college in 2009 which really made me realize that I wanted a DSLR.  When I look back on those photos, which I thought were really good at the time, I feel I have come a long way.

I have been submitting my photos to various internet photography sites that run weekly and monthly contests.  I have gotten some feedback but no wins until now.  Last week I submitted a photo to DSLR.com and won!  No prize, but at least for this week I have "bragging rights."  This was one of my favorite photos from 2011 and I am very happy that it won.

See link below for my winning photo!

Whole Foods and Doctors

This morning was one of those mornings that I have not had a lot of since I retired.  UGH, I had to set the alarm clock.  I had an appointment with my rheumatologist at 9am which, believe me, is extremely early these days.  I used to get up at 5am and be at work by 7am but I'm sadly out of practice.  I also can never estimate how long it's going to take me to get there and I end up rushing like a crazy person and there's always too much traffic.  But anyway, I made it, and all is well for another 3 months. 

I got out of there in about an hour and since I was near Mt. Washington, which is a really cool little area, decided to drive over there and see what was happening since I haven't been there in a while.  It's part of Baltimore City but you would never know it by it's quaint and quiet tree-lined streets.  One of my favorite restaurants, the Mt. Washington Tavern, was there until a few months ago when it burned down.  I drove by and it looks like they are busy getting it rebuilt.  The front windows are boarded up with two huge Ravens banners draped across them.

Mt. Washington is also the home of a Whole Foods store, which I have wanted to go to forever, and have just never had the chance.  I love "hoity-toity" food stores, and believe me, this has to be one of the "hoitiest and toitiest" I have ever been in.  Not like Wegmans, which has all the gourmet stuff on one side and pretty much a regular food store on the other.  Well, only if regular food stores sell books, cookware, appliances, etc.  Whole Foods specializes in organic foods and they have an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables.  The fresh meats and fish looked really good and they also have a great bakery.  I love all those chewy, crusty loaves of multi-grain bread so I definitely got one of those and a large slice of gingerbread.  My favorite thing though, was the hot breakfast bar.  Scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes with onions, Oh my, I had to get some of this to take home and it was wonderful.  So by the time my next doctor appointment comes around in 3 months it will be April and Spring will be on its way, I will have to take my camera and visit Mt. Washington again and take a few shots.  It's something to look forward to than just talking about my aches and pains.

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge - Silly Holiday Photos

Silly photos show up when you least expect them to.  When I'm looking through my memory card after a get-together with my family, sometimes I find some funny photo that I don't remember even taking.  The best ones are usually from when I give my camera to my 15-year old niece, because I never know what she will come up with.  She loves playing with the Nikon, and I can sit and talk to my sisters and brothers and she photographs the entire event.  I really think the kid has the potential to be a good photographer. 
So this particular one I can't take credit for as it's one of my niece's.  My sister and her friend were posing on the stairs and my other sister jumps out behind them.  I laugh every time I look at it.  I know my sisters will be thrilled to find out this photo is my entry for the I Heart Faces Silly Holiday Photos, yeah, right!

Family Photo Gone Awry

  

Grady Waiting for Santa - I Heart Faces - Holiday Bokeh

My kitty's Christmas photo for the I Heart Faces holiday bokeh challenge.