Welcome to a misty lake house in Deep Creek, Maryland, a calming escape and quick trip from Pittsburgh. 

As my life began to intertwine with the Rustbelt Farmer’s, my life also began to intertwine with his family. I’m a lucky lady. They’re an easy bunch to love, warm and inviting, connected and caring, and in our four years together, many family traditions have sprouted. 

There’s a family reunion, which feels like a scene straight from The Parent Trap (the original, obviously). There’s a very fierce Chili Cook Off (I was jipped!). There’s plaid pajamas on Christmas and a holiday house tour that kicks off with warm wine drinks and cheese spreads, and most recently, there’s a fall getaway. 

As much as I love a summertime lake swim, there’s something about the turn of the season, the grey skies, steady mist and the first need for a sweater. It’s the perfect time to sit on a porch and take in the view of Deep Creek, Maryland. 

What I’ve noticed in my own life lately is how easy it is for the little things to be lost to the mire. A tender nickname is forgotten. The end-of-day greetings become a passing ‘hey’ instead of a thoughtful pause. Conversations feel like a witness’s account instead of an exchange. 

A new backdrop can do such wonders to reset, to sit around a fire and confide. This trip was a turning point in that way. Calming scenery and a crackling fire were an invitation to dig a little deeper, to engage more meaningfully. And for furry friends and active toddlers, the change of scenery was a whole new world to explore.

We ate Big Batch pancakes, slow-cooked ribs and fireside s’mores. We sipped on coffee refills, smoky old fashioneds and crisp reds. We sat quietly at times, then ran in crazy circles around the house. There were rounds of hide and seek and the skipping of the roundest, flattest stones.  

Pro S’mores Tip: Splurge on the Smashmallows! 

There were definitely some tears shed when it came time to depart. Furry friends and children (and probably adults alike) wanted to believe the lake was our new home front, but it was merely a short, sweet, foggy getaway, perfect for a little recharge. Here’s to many more!

Cheers,