The official blog of the Lake Pointe Inn, in McHenry, MD. If you like what you have read or what you have seen, please recommend us to friends and family. We are thankful for our customers who have helped us grow over the years.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Maryland Maple Syrup Harvest




Signs of Spring in the Deep Creek Lake area are beginning to show.  Snow will remain on Wisp's Marsh Mountain until April and citizens may see what they call a Robin Snow here and there as higher and steadier temperatures near.  But one sure sign of the transition from winter to spring in Garrett County is the sighting of buckets and tubing mounted on the side of Maple trees in many of the county's Maple groves.

Locally bought Maple Syrup is 100% pure, compared to national brands that may only contain a fraction of pure Maple Syrup. It takes 40 gallons of sap from a tree to make 1 gallon of pure maple syrup.  The sap is reduced in an evaporation process that creates syrup, can be witnessed at many local farms and DNR demonstrations.

Swallow Falls and Herrington Manor State Parks will be hosting demonstrations on separate days the weekend of March 16th & 17th.  On Saturday March 16th a demonstration of processing Maple syrup will be held at Swallow Falls State Park from 8:30 to 3:30.  A  Q&A will be conducted by a local producer.  Maple products will be offered for sale at the demonstration.

Herington Manor State Park is hosting their Pancake Breakfast & Maple Syrup Demonstration on Sunday March 17th from 8:30 to 2:00.  Products will also be available for sale at this event. Cost is $8 per adult and $5 for children under 12.

Remember, no matter what time of year you are visiting Garrett County, high quality, locally made and grown Maple products are always available.

See a Maple Syrup For Sale sign-- stop the car!...make the purchase. You'll be happy you did!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

William Morris at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC


I stopped in at the National Gallery yesterday to view the exhibit "Pre-Raphaelites - Victorian Arts and Design 1848-1900" (Feb 17th- May 19th, 2013). What a treat and if you have an interest in William Morris and his times!

Who are they? The Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood was a society formed by 7 young men, named for their admiration of art prior to Raphael (1483-1520). Disillusioned by the rigid rules on composition and painting at the Royal Academy of Art, where three of them were studying, these artists rebelled and sought the ‘simplicity and sincerity’ of the Gothic and Early Renaissance Art.

“As an official group, the Pre-Raphaelites stayed together for only five
years. But a second generation of artists, centered on Rossetti and led by
Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris, arose in the 1860s with the
aim of cultivating beauty in everyday life. “

The artists were reacting to industrial revolution, as was, William Morris, who thought that mass production ‘separated laborers from their creations’. Instead, he felt that collaboration amongst artists and artisans would create ‘”high caliber- goods”.

In this exhibit, William Morris’ designs are on display in wood-block printed books and fabrics, embroidery, wallpapers and textiles- as you will see, most inspired by British flora and antique fabrics.

Get to the National Gallery!