A chilly, but sunshiny Monday morning.  A chance for some severe thunderstorms this evening with damaging winds and large hail.  Temperatures will be much warmer through the week.  A high near 80 on Thursday!

We had some sleet fall Saturday morning and heavy rain that night, but Sunday made up for it -- beautiful and warmer than predicted.

I stopped at the Pleasant Valley Greenhouse on Saturday.  Mind you, it was 40 degrees and drizzling and they were directing traffic. Seriously, it was that crowded!

Bitter cold this morning.  Low was recorded at 4:11 a.m. with 31.6.  Not much sign of a freeze in my neck of the woods.  I will say that most of my plants seem to have rebounded to vertical after all the snow, except the greens of my tiger lilies.  Kind of strange 'cause they are some hardy, hardy perennials.  In due time, I guess.

Sunshine and an expected high of 52 today. 

We had a bear encounter in my Lake Shore Drive neighborhood.  A thankfully not-right-next-door neighbor was awakened by a noise and found a bear on her deck peering through the sliding glass door.  Even swatted at the door at her.  Too close for comfort, I say!

Slots at Rocky Gap have finally been approved! 

There will be a Spring Bazaar at the Oakland Indoor Flea Market tomorrow from 9 - 6.  Lots of stuff and lots of bargains.  A great indoor activity in case of rain.  Call 301-334-3006 with any questions. 

A Native Plant Sale will be held at New Germany State Park tomorrow from 10 am to 1 pm.  A variety of plants native to Allegany and Garrett Counties will be available for purchase, including grasses, sedges, wildflowers, shrubs and trees.  All proceeds will benefit the Savage River Watershed Association (SRWA), and volunteers will be available to answer questions about native plants, conservation landscaping, and backyard wildlife habitat practices. 

Raining this morning.  Freeze Watch in effect for tonight.  Really, when it this all end?  Daytime rain over the weekend seems be now limited to Saturday. 

It's ramp time!  Stop by the Discovery Center on Saturday from 11 to 1 to sample some tasty dishes with the aromatic (a.k.a stinky) wild onions. 

Thanks to the fine crew of Craig Services for putting our dock in last week.  Now if the weather would just cooperate so we can enjoy it. 

Opening date for rafting at ASCI has been bumped to May 12. You can now make your reservations online.

A decision is expected today on a slots license at Rocky Gap.   

Still some remnants of snow, but yesterday's sun helped a bunch.  It honestly sounded like it was raining all day as the snow melted.  Sunshine today then it looks like April showers will dominate the remainder of the month. 

The county commissioners sent this letter to the Board of Education just prior to their meeting last night.  Even after an additional $500,000 appropriation the board voted by a majority to close both Kitzmiller and Dennett Road elementary schools at the end of this year. 

GLAF is offering a Best of the Arts package with one adult ticket to this weekend's BeatleMania NOW, July 13's Pittsburgh Symphony production and a one-day pass to the CARC.  All for just $60.  Purchase online here. 

Welcome to The Sand Trap in the Oakland Golf Clubhouse as a new advertiser. 

The snow finally stopped falling yesterday evening.  By afternoon temperatures rose a bit so what fell, melted and what was on the ground turned to slush.  Overnight the slush froze again.  OK, the "fun" is over and it can melt anytime now.  High of only 42 expected today.  Not sure if that is enough to get the job done.

Seven Springs is actually opening a slope today from 10-4. 

Some good news from the Chamber of Commerce:  The Maryland Office of Tourism has released the Tourism Sales Tax revenues for Fiscal Year 2012 July - December and Garrett County is up 6.6% from Fiscal Year 2011.  Specifically, restaurants have seen a 10.1% increase and lodging is up 6.4% from FY 2011's tourism sales tax revenues.  Last year, Garrett County received a citation from Governor O'Malley for achieving 7.5% growth in tourism sales tax revenues in FY 2011.

A couple of fundraisers to announce for Cindy's Fund. A 6K run/walk will be held on Saturday, May 19, and a Cindy's Fund Pigout on Saturday, May 12.  More info is available here. 

Welcome Garrett Lawn Service as a new advertiser.  We have quite a few lawn service companies in our Business Directory.  If you are still spending your valuable time mowing, you are not paying attention.  :-)

It's a winter wonderland.  Blah!  School is cancelled, winter storm warning until 2 am and a snow emergency plan is in effect.  About five inches so far with more on the way.  This is just insane!  Now we just hope and pray we keep power.

My poor crabapple tree...

Special Sunday post to announce a Winter Storm Watch.  Rain is expected to change to snow after midnight and drop 6 inches or more through tomorrow night.  The NWS warns of possible downed tree limbs and power outages.  They neglect to mention the possibility of broken spirits and widespread alcohol abuse.  :-) Oy vey!

Keep your eye on our webcams.  Could get interesting. 

Beautiful, beautiful day yesterday and more of the same today.  Need the rain that is expected tonight through Saturday night, so we shall grin and bear it.

The Weather Channel has snow in our forecast for Monday and Tuesday.   Seriously, look at this bizarre 10-day outlook. 

Maryland's adult blue crab population is at a 19-year high and juvenile population is at it's highest level ever!   

The Duquesne Tamburitzans are at the college tonight. 

Pine Lodge Steakhouse is having a Guess the Snowfall Party tomorrow night from 6 to  9.  Winners will be announced and awarded. 

The Boardwalk will be firing up the grill this weekend. 

A light drizzle for the better part of the day yesterday and a nice drink for the plants.  Looking at mostly sunny skies for the next two days and then a possible washout for the weekend. 

A new drought map for Maryland has been released.  I think the yellow in Garrett County expanded a bit. 

Mike Logsdon has been named Acting Executive Director as ASCI. 

A few drizzles this morning and a chance for some more later today. 

Accuweather is tracking a weekend storm that will bring some much-needed rain to the northeast. 

The commissioners are considering raising the property tax rate.  Well, that should go over like a lead balloon. 

I attended a meeting with the Mountain Laurel Garden Club yesterday.  Enjoyed an informative workshop on flower arranging and a tasty lunch at Will O' the Wisp.  Nice way to spend an afternoon!

Seasonal dock rentals are available at Trader's Landing.  Check out the information here.   

The rain missed us yesterday and so did the wind, for the most part.  Cooler temperatures over the next few days and just a slight chance for some rain tomorrow. 

The buds on the crabapple trees survived our numerous frosts and freezes and are now blooming beautifully. 

Deep Creek Foodland Fresh will become a Shop 'n Save Fresh in early May. 

Tuesday Movie of the Week at Garrett 8 is The Hunger Games.  Just $3.50. 

Black Bear Tavern will now keep the kitchen open until last call every night for some late-night munchies.

The weatherman missed the mark on Saturday.  It wasn't the sunny day he promised, but Sunday more than made up for it.  Perfect!

Water temp this morning is 54.  Congratulations to Baird Mead, Hannah and Nicole Schroyer as the completely unofficial 'first ones in the lake' yesterday.  Crazy kids!

Wind advisory goes into effect at 2 pm today as some thunderstorms may roll through the area.  Mostly sunny in between with a high of 76.

Nearly all of Maryland is in drought -- except us.  This map was as of April 10 and the drought seems to be reaching west, so bring on the rain today.

Sharing this story of an 11-year-old who created an app that will benefit children in Haiti.  Nice story, but even better that the boy is a student at my alma mater; Avonworth High School.

March Market Minute for Garrett County is now available.   

Added some motorcycle apparel to our Marketplace over the weekend.

Happy Friday and a Friday the 13th, at that.  I'm not worried because I'm not superstitious. It's bad luck to be superstitious! :-)

Weekend weather is looking fabulous.  Just a slight chance for a passing thunderstorm tomorrow.  High of 77 on Sunday!

Comedy Blast tonight at Wisp.  For more info. and to purchase your tickets online, click here.  Also, there will be no scenic chair lift rides or mountain bike trails available this weekend due to scheduled maintenance on the chair lifts. 

GCMH Health Fair will be held tomorrow at Wisp from 8:30 - 1 pm with free screenings, guest speakers and more.

Dine at Santa Fe Grille tonight between 5 and 11 and 10% of food sales will be donated to Relay for Life of Garrett County. 

Kitzmiller Elementary won a $5,000 cash prize in a national photo contest from Box Tops for Education. 

The CARC facility will close tomorrow at 3 pm to prepare for the Spring Splash event. 

Crazy, crazy day yesterday.  Serious blizzard-like conditions periodically through the day.  Snow fell hard and fast and would cover the ground.  Then, it would stop, melt and then come again.  Thanks to MaryHanna Clodfelter for sending these pics.  Kind of reflective of the general mood 'round here yesterday. 

Putting that all behind us now.  The sun is working its way through and should melt any remaining snow.  One more freeze watch tonight and then all-clear for spring through the 7-day forecast. 

This article claims now is the "perfect storm" to purchase a vacation home.  Wait no longer!

For those in town... tonight Oakland McDonald's will donate 15% of all sales from 5 to 8 to Garrett Mentors.  Also a benefit for Phil Workman and family will be held tonight at The Local.

Snow.  To quote my 12-year-old, "Ewww..."  Yup that about sums it up.  Still snowing and the high today is expected to reach only 35.  My plants don't look so good...

Highs in the 70's by Sunday. 

Garrett County superintendent of schools recommended closing Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary to the board of ed.  The board will vote on the recommendation on April 24.

Allegany County officials have reached an agreement with the slots license holder at Rocky Gap. 

Our local spring break is over.  I've been told it was the first one ever here.  EVER!?!?  Gotta admit, it was kind of nice, but I still vote for winter snow.  Snow in April?  Not so preferable, but it looks like it may happen today through tomorrow. 

Looks like Maryland's Mega Millions winners have finally stepped forward -- anonymously -- and it's not the woman who claimed to have hid, then lost her ticket.  Well, color me surprised.  :-)

An picture-perfect holiday weekend.  Certainly didn't break any heat records, but the sun was shining throughout.  Paying for it now.  Rainy and cold this morning and a chance for snow -- yes, snow -- tomorrow through Wednesday night. 

Mayflies started swarming this weekend.  Pesky little buggers, but I enjoyed watching a robin having a feast on a group hanging on our fence.  Another week or so and they should be gone. 

Absolutely gorgeous morning!  A good number of people are already in town and more on the way for the weekend.  Weather looks lovely, although they did add a 20% chance for some rain on Sunday.

Our warm winter could make for a buggy summer.  Had PMSI at my house yesterday spraying for carpenter ants.

Don't forget the Easter sunrise service atop Wisp mountain on Sunday.  And, this EGG-stravangza at the fairgrounds tomorrow looks like a hoot. 

Happy Easter everyone!

Daytime sunshine... clear night... morning frost...  Repeat through the weekend...

Phase II of the Deep Creek Lake Sediment Study is set to begin next week.  Here is more information from the DCL POA. 

The Chamber is offering a 3-2-1 promotion this spring.   Visit the Deep Creek Lake area this spring and you can stay 3 nights for the price of 2 plus one activity. The offers below are valid only from April 1, 2012 - May 16, 2012.  Click here for a list of participating companies. 

Talks have stalled on the slot license at Rocky Gap... again...

CARC will host an Easter egg hunt on Saturday with a community swim afterward.  The Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center will offer natural egg dyeing from 11-1 on Saturday, as well. 

Sorry, no post from me yesterday as I was on the road.  I can confirm it was a beautiful day from the shores of Ocean City to the mountains of Garrett County.  About 10 degrees warmer in the mountains, if you can believe that.

Scattered thunderstorms today and then nothing but sunshine through the weekend.  Nighttime temps will dip below or around the freezing mark the next few nights.

Well, no winner amongst my Mega Millions tickets, so I guess you're stuck with me. :-)

Overcast skies and cold this morning, but things should improve as the day goes on.

Wisp 2012/2013 season passes are now on sale.  Save 20% until June 30.

Welcome Mountain Flour Bakery as a new advertiser!