I'm Linked!

After eight months of blogging I've been linked. The Deep Creek Blog - www.deepcreekblog.com. has added a link to my blog. I'm not quite sure what this means, but thank you very, very much. Hey, I'm tickled, someone is actually reading/looking at my stuff! Since doing a post on the scenic beauty of Garrett County got me a wee bit of notoriety, I thought a follow-up was in order. Here are a few more shots from Western Maryland's winter playground. Did I mention I like it up there? I did...did I mention it's colder 'n blazes up there? No...well it is, so dress warm.

CSX SD-50 8616 with train R-317 cresting Seventeen Mile Grade at Altamont.

The B&O station in Oakland. I told you it was cold in Garrett County.

This photo wasn't taken in Garrett County, but it was close. I include it because I froze my hiney off to get it, also the train will be in Garrett County in a few minutes. The location is between Rodemer and Terra Alta, West Virginia. This was the day that my video camera froze up...yes I mean froze, as in I can't feel my lips frozen. The only thing working that day was the heater in my car and my Pentax K-1000

New Germany Road in an area known as Monroe Run Vista.

Cabin 1 at New Germany State Park. Goody Two Shoes 'n me spent out 20th wedding anniversary there. We also got snowed in while we were there, but we didn't care.

The lake at New Germany frozen over.

Ice cicles outside our window

Still at New Germany. This is the little creek below the spillway. I nearly won an award for this picture. After the contest was over, one of the judges told me that if the stream would have bended somewhere in the photo it would have won. I now tell you what I told him. I take Mother Nature as she presents herself to me. If there's a bend I photograph it, if there isn't I photograph it. Also, I don't use filters or any other gadgets. About the only thing I'll do is to run my stuff through Photoshop and remove any blemishes...you see, I have been known to go out with a dirty lens. Why do you think I'm called a Camera Totin' Idiot? By the way, can you tell that I like New Germany? I do, I love it there. Now I hear the Governor my close this little gem. I could say a lot of things at this point and most wouldn't be complimentary towards the Governor, but I don't talk politics on my blog.

The Castleman River Bridge in the snow.

A courting couple at Swallow Falls.

Another favorite hang out, Spruce Village at Grantsville.

The old schoolhouse. I remember this cabin when it was located at the intersection of New Germany and Chestnut Ridge Roads.

I wish I could say I lived here. Sadly I don't, but I wish I did.

I love windows. The trick is not getting your reflection in the picture.

Horsing Around

Me 'n Goody Two Shoes took a drive yesterday. Originally, we were going to drive up to Bellefonte, but we got a late start...okay, we slept in. Switching to plan B, we headed for Garrett County, where there is supposed to be snow...hey, it's Western Maryland's winter playground. But the weatherman goofed...again. Still we had a nice, sunny day. The perfect day for hitting a few of the back roads, like Cove Road, Bear Creek Road, and Sand Flat Road. Got pretty lucky and I think there's even a Wordless Wednesday photo in there somewhere. Soooo, here we go.

We started out at the scenic overlook on Rt. 219 where I shot this farm down on the Cove Road.

Here's the same farm, but from down on the Cove Road.

St. John's Lutheran Church.

And this muddy fellow, also on the Cove Road. Do horses really talk to cows?

Next, we swung down Bear Creek Road, but the only photo opportunity we found was this area of Bear Creek.

After lunch at UNO's at Deep Creek Lake, we shopped a little in Oakland, drove through Deer Park, and then as an afterthought we headed up Sand Flat Road and got a real treat. We found these beauties enjoying a little sun after a roll in the mud.

The big fella was really enjoying the sun and solitude. Can you say, zero stress?

Here's another shot of the big fella.

Next, these two decided they wanted on camera.

Time for a mid-afternoon snack.

A nice, tight shot of the old gray gelding.

At this point, the show really began, for me anyway. This brown and white mare came right over to me and was nice enough to pose for the following photos. She even let me pet her. For those photos you'll have to go over to A Mother's Minute and check out Goody Two Shoes post.


This one is my favorite. Isn't she a beauty. Arrrgh, I sound like the Crocodile guy, but without the accent. Still, what a beautiful animal.


My second favorite.


Here she is with her posse in the background. Wait til you see the shot Goody Two Shoes got of this beauty with the old gray gelding...I think you could say they know each other. So hop on over to A Mother's Minute.

A Most Excellent Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year..well, they all are, but on a scale of 1 to 10, this one was a 13. For a lot of reasons. First, we had a beautiful tree. Goody Two Shoes really outdid herself this year. I help, but she does most of the work. The only sad part was that Skippy couldn't come home this year. It was the one deppressing moment in what was a wonderful Christmas.

I mention that I help. Here is one of my contributions. A country Santa, complete with his tractor, cup of coffee and his dog. You didn't know Santa had a dog, did you? Well, he does, in fact I have it on good authority that his dog's name is...Lattimore...yeah, that's it, and he likes me! I couldn't resist sticking in my Charlie Brown tree in the background. The ornament is actually an earring. As for the picture in the background, well, it has nothing to do with the holidays, rather, it serves as a reminder of where I want to be someday.

Christmas Eve we always go to my Mothers' place to open presents. Here's Soccer Dude and Dimples mugging for the camera.

Goody Two Shoes in all her holiday splendor.

Mom and the Wild Child getting to play Rock, Paper, Scissors over the last cookie.

Me laying down for a long winter nap.

The hand belongs to Goody Two Shoes. She's showing off her diamond ring. Twenty eight and a half years ago we started out with very little and I couldn't afford a diamond. This year was a different story. She says I'm bad? Does that mean I did a good thing? Women...they speak with forked tongue.

Just when I thought I'd blown it with Santa Claus, the chubby old elf came through. Guess I was a better boy than I thought. Take a gander at some of the loot he brought me.

Time for a competitive, but friendly, game of Fact or Crap.

Here's the Wild Child and Soccer Dude. The look on his face says it all.

After all the silliness, it was time to eat.

Christmas is also a time to get stuffed...with delicious holiday treats. We were reading the Pioneer Woman one day and Goody Two Shoes saw her recipe for Holiday Bacon Appetizers. Click here for a link to Ree's recipe.

These little babies are so delicious that you can't eat just one. Wait...I thought you couldn't eat just one Lays Potato chip? Who cares, Lays just got kicked to the curb. Behold the power of bacon and Parmesan cheese.

Here's the chef savoring the fruits of her labor. Five seconds later she got shoved out of the way so I could have a go at them. We're both on diets now.

And lastly, as devoted readers of Confessions of a Pioneer Woman, Goody Two Shoes 'n me ordered on of her calendars. Then we sat back and waited...and waited...and waited some more. Christmas Eve came and no calendar in the mail. At this point Goody Two Shoes was accusing me of intercepting the mail and hiding the calendar to surprise her with on Christmas Day. I was doing the same thing to her and she proclaimed her innocence...cause when your nickname is Goody Two Shoes that's what you do. Now, fast forward to Christmas afternoon. We're sitting in the living room having a merry old time. Dimples and Soccer Dude have come over and it's almost time for games when there is a knock at the door. For a moment I thought Skippy had come in from Tennessee to surprise us. It was the mailman...that's right, the mailman...ON CHRISTMAS DAY! Wasssup with that? Anyway he cheerfully announces that we had a package. Goody Two Shoes thanked him, then asked what he was doing on Christmas of all days. He said that they asked for volunteers. Long story short we got our calendar on Christmas day. Thanks a bunch, Ree!

Wordless Wednesday (Merry Christmas)

For more Wordless Wednesday participants click here

How I spent My Christmas Eve?

We had some last minute things to wrap up today and I'd made a mental note the night before that I'd like to visit one of my favorite places to eat. The official name of the place is Curtis' Famous Weiners. But around here we just say we're going to Coney Island. For me, make it three with sauce, an order of the best frenchy fries in town and a Coke. It don't get much better than this.

Even Goody Two Shoes came along and had a plain dog. Plain? Plain? That don't just sound right.

Here's the Wild Child enjoying her Cherry Smash.