A Peek at Cumberland

I'm up in Cumberland this weekend for the Mountain Maryland Studio Tour. This is my 3rd year on this tour and it's quite nice. Here's a peek at my other place, my Fun House. We bought this house 3 years ago. My husband grew up here in Cumberland and our house is just 2 blocks from the high school he graduated from. He bought here reluctantly, kicking and screaming really. But now he finds it very relaxing and fun. We have a really nice group of friends here, artists, bicyclists and classmates.


The house was built in 1919, solid and sturdy. It's brick, as most of the houses here are. There were many brick factories back in the day. Most of the streets are brick.


We have an eclectic mix of furniture. Most of the furniture came from Goodwill, leftovers from the farm place or found alongside the road. With a little bit of paint and glue, most pieces are reusable. Above is a waste bin for greasy rags, used at a service station. I use it now for a side table. Makes good storage too for all my greasy rags).




This cabinet made its way back to Cumberland. It used to live at Houston's parent's house over 40 years ago. It was dark brown wood then and did not have my favorite words painted on it, like 'poophead', 'dingleberry', 'sprinkle', mystical.






This is our 'fun' house.





The kitchen was very dark, dark cabinets, dark floor so I warmed it up with pumpkin colored walls and twinkle lights.







I've collected a few pieces of art from local artists. This is Dave Romero's photo printed on canvas of an abandoned silk mill nearby. Pictured is the calender from June, 1954, the month that people just walked out of the mill and it remains as it was to this day.


I collect vintage radios, clocks, electric fans and other quirky type things.


and typewriters




the purple room


the Barbie room because it's bright pink and orange.








the circle room


chocolate and licorice




the 1/2 bath, sorta reminds me of an old Texaco gas station restroom, only cleaner.









the view from the upstairs bedroom, overlooking the rooftops


and down to the courtyard below


my studio






Stop in this weekend for a cup of hot cider and a ginger cookie!

Yes, We Can!

I am beyond excited. We can now hold our heads up high and the world will see a new United States of America. I am inspired, giddy, and so happy to be a part of this historic event. Gobama!

Languishing in the Leaves

I had a wee bit of a cold last week and felt tired for 10 minutes. Upon walking into our back yard in Cumberland, the colorful, dry, crisp leaves beckoned me. I laid down in the sunshine and boy, did that feel good! This was my worm's eye view.


The dogs have had this figured out for awhile and wondered what I was doing in their space. I had to shoo them away so I could 'rest'.


They kept a close eye on me though.


A beautiful fall day, and now I feel a whole lot better.

Break Time

After cranking it out for a few weeks, dyeing, skeining, labeling, painting, decorating, fusing, fussing, beading, felting, knitting....I'm taking a break for a week. I woke up to this Monday morning. I love this view across the road from us. I walked out in my jammies and got these photos. The mist was just rising from the lowlands.




Sunday night right after studio tour I met a group of friends to do our full moon paddle. This is the Hunter Moon and it was big, bold and orange as it was rising
.

The first night there were about 12 of us. My friend, Ann, was away and was sorry she missed it, so I said I'd to it again Monday night. So Penny, Ann and I went out. The weather has been so perfect, unseasonably warm for mid-October, so we just had to take advantage. I'd be home knitting and watching tv and this is just so much better.


We paddled up to a nearby island, with the sky turning a bright pink and the moon rising behind us.


The water is quite low and there's a huge driftwood log in the middle of the Potomac.


It's covered in grasses and looks rather eery. We saw a heron on it one time.


This is the entrance to the cove where we beach our kayaks and set up cocktails.


A few times ago there was this washed up drum and the next time we went a flat piece of plywood washed up and makes a perfect tabletop. I'm hoping the next time that 4 tall bar stools wash up. Tuesday night was another beautiful evening so 5 of us women went out again. This time we had a table cloth and a candle. And plenty of wine.


Then on Thursday I went riding with 3 friends from Poolesville. We had planned on ending up at Harper's Ferry but rain turned us back at Brunswick.


This is a just completed renovation of the bridge going over one of the creeks on the Canal.


I saw these amazing bright orange mushrooms. I screeched to a halt, turned around and had to get a closer look.


Outrageous color!


And these cute little numbers.... like fuzzy hats. 'Shrooms are so incredible.


And then every other day, I'm biking around the mountain. The soybeans are turning bright golden and the trees are changing colors more every day.






This is my favorite building on the ride. It's an old general store near Park Mill's Road. I wish it was stocked with goods and we could stop in and get a pop and a candy bar.


Poison ivy is beautiful this time of year.


Fixer upper: with just a little bit of work, a front porch, some columns, windows, a floor, plumbing, electricity, siding, and paint, this would be a great place!


but this place is adorable, with Sugarloaf Mountain in the distance.


Tina riding through the canopy on Mt. Ephraim Road.


We zip by these stone bridges but I never tire of looking at them.




This is Little Bennet, so peaceful. One time Tina and I saw a doe and her twin fawns slowly walking across this river.


You'll find me out biking every day that it's nice. Cya!