Pockets of Creativity

Let me tell you about some interesting places I've visited:

Deep Creek Lake, MD -- Deep Creek Lake is a manmade lake many years old now, formed in order to dam some water coming down the river.  There are 65 miles of shoreline.  Within the town of Deep Creek there are a lot of artisans, and just outside of town too.  We've seen hand woven rugs made out of white cotton socks, concrete circles embedded with stained glass to form hummingbirds and other designs, crafts made out of quilting fabric, and many other neat things.  In one area, there are some cute little buildings that provide a retail venue for local crafters and it was really fun going there.


Scenic View -- We can't remember if we saw this little strip of houses in Maryland or in Pennsylvania, but the section is hard to miss on historic Rt. 40.  There is a row of houses built fairly close together and they are used as small shops where you can buy antiques, crafts, etc.  It's really quaint and beautiful.  The last time we went through that area (and it's been quite a few years), we stopped and enjoyed a little visiting going from one house to the other.  At this point, I can't find it anywhere on the Internet, and I know for a fact that there was a small corporate-style sign designating the area as Scenic View.  I can't find it on Google Earth either, so it's a bit of a mystery right now, but it was so neat.  I hope "progress" hasn't put it out of business.


New Smyrna Beach, Florida -- This location is right along the ocean close to Daytona.  It is known for fishing and art.  There are bunches of shops located in the quaint downtown area, as well as an interesting Catholic church where we attended Mass.  We actually walked there, if I remember right.  It is called "Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church."  We loved it; it was welcoming and pretty and we were probably among the youngest attenders at Mass there.  Of course, that was a LONG time ago.  Back in the 1970s there were maybe three or four large condo complexes.  Now it looks like the place has grown and maybe it's not as quaint.


And now enter ------ Canal Fulton, Ohio.  Can you imagine, but after all these years what we had hoped would happen is starting to catch on.  There is a glass blowing factory and store just across the old bridge and they have amazing things there.  There is a shop where they sell all kinds of artwork located on Locust Street in one of the pole buildings.  They also do framing.  We have a group of dedicated thespians who are putting on plays in all kinds of places, including on the deck of the St. Helena III canal boat.  Isn't that something?  The storefronts in downtown Canal Fulton are old and charming.  You can buy homemade candy and then cross the street for authentic Thai food, and then pick up a beautiful embroidered sweatshirt, and finally, get a stuffed animal unlike most you see elsewhere.  And don't forget Oser's Dairy Store where they have an original soft serve ice cream machine ready to go.


Perhaps each person remembers visiting a location for different reasons.  Someone might remember the dinner they ate there.  Someone else might remember a sports event.  But for me, it is always the same things that pique my interest every single time -- art, buildings, crafts, and interesting people.


I always come away exhilarated and excited -- full of enthusiasm and humor -- and excited to share what I've seen with others.  Sometimes I return ready to try a new craft or an adaptation of one.

Take it easy and make your own memories. 

Karen