Changes

We just returned from the annual fall pilgrimage back to America. This year seemed to be full of changes, starting with the house in Maryland.

We’ve decided to rent the place out to vacationers to offset some of the absurd taxes that we pay in Garrett County. Even with the down economy, the rental season was a resounding success. We had visitors from as far away as Los Angeles and Chicago and it was really fun reading through their comments in our guest book. The place held up well and except for one broken vase, we noticed no theft or damage. Our rental manager did tell us about a bizarre situation when a young couple (mid twenties) arrived from Pittsburgh very late on Friday night. They called him at 1:00 AM threatening to sue for ruining their vacation because the driveway was too bumpy and too long. They ended up at the police station with the women on the phone with her lawyer. The officers were able to calm the situation down, and then the couple was escorted by the rental manager out to the house. After they got over their apparent fear of the dark, they enjoyed the place, wrote very nice comments, and promised to return next year. Only in America…I swear, you can’t make this stuff up.

We blazed a new trail to the river and added the “Crooked Butt Bench” for next year’s guests. Beth and I always loved this spot on the land, but have called it by a different name that isn’t appropriate for our family-oriented renters.

We’ve also begun construction on a Celtic stone circle just below the house, inspired by our recent visit to the Drombeg circle in Ireland. It’s a smaller version, not aligned to the stars like the original. And I’m sure that the ancient Celts didn’t use a John Deere 790 to set the stones.

My parents are selling the old hillbilly homestead up in Ligonier. Lots of memories in this place and we’re all sad to see it go.

But living in downtown within walking distance to the village square is also very nice.

We hit the fall colors after peak, but they did seem a little brighter down in West Virginia. The hiking around Seneca Rocks was spectacular…

…as was the view from the top.