We love fall! It’s such a beautiful time of the year. The mountains are blazing with color! There’s also so much going on this month, and every month in the Deep Creek Lake area. Whether you enjoy a good book by the fire or an exhilarating kayak ride on the lake, or both, there’s a good quality of life here that seems endless. I hope you can visit this month and while you're here, please stop by our office and let me tell you about other ways to enjoy fall in the Deep Creek Lake area as well as show you all the other reasons to own a home in the Deep Creek Lake area. As a member of our local Board of Realtors, I am excited to show you all available listings regardless of the broker representing the listing. Please call me at 800.336.5253 for more information.

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Fall is without a doubt the most colorful time of the year in Garrett County. Yes, it's colorful just about everywhere, but here in the mountains of western Maryland, the abundance of forests and parks coupled with the magnificent mountain vistas create an enormous tapestry of autumn's brilliant colors.  With more than 90,000 acres of state parks and state forests, fall is a sight to behold. Then of course there's the picture perfect fall trees reflecting in the calm waters of Deep Creek Lake. It just doesn't get any better. 

You can enjoy this gorgeous scenery many ways whether it's taking a long walk on 150 miles of maintained hiking trails in the state forests and parks or sitting on your dock while snapping photos of the trees reflecting on the water. It's also a great time to visit some of our local towns and check out the fall foliage. Touring Accident, Grantsville, Friendsville, and Oakland on a crisp September day and taking in the local charm of a small town can also be a wonderful way to appreciate fall in western Maryland.

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September Events

Mountain Fresh Farmer's Market

Every Saturday, 10 am - 1 pm

Fresh produce, herbs, plants, baked goods, jams & jellies, personal care items, and crafts from local producers.  For more information, visit www.MountainFresh.org or call 301-334-6960.

39th Annual Rudy's Labor Day Sale

Sept. 4- 7, Wisp Resort

Celebrate the official kickoff to the 2009 ski and board season! Extensive selection of wintersports equipment, apparel & accessories at discount warehouse prices. www.rudysatwisp.com, 301.387.4640.

Little Yough Summer Music Festival

Sept. 4, 7 pm

 The final concert of the year will be our traditional farewell to summer concert with The Remedy on September 4. The concerts begin at 7 pm with food vendors on site at 6 pm for everyone's dining pleasure. Please bring your own chairs as seating is limited. Concerts are held rain or shine at the Mountain Fresh Pavilion (farmer's market) adjacent to the town parking lot in Oakland.

2009 Savage Man Triathalon

Sept. 20

 Deep Creek Lake. "Tri-To-Win...the fight against melanoma," ½ iron-distance triathlon, a tough race to beat a tough cancer. Proceeds benefit the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation. A great event to watch! www.savagemantri.org.

Visit my website to view property listing in the Deep Creek lake area.

http://www.deepcreeklakehomesearch.com

This Month’s Recipe:

Italian Baked Chicken & Pastina

• 1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
• 1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.

Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Put the chicken mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Place the mixture in a buttered 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.