Tag: Festival of Trees

Greetings from Deep Creek Lake-Festival of Trees. GarrettCounty is home to some very talented artisans.  One of these individuals is local Luthier Roger Skipper, who builds amazing first class guitars, violins, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, dulcimers, dobros, and stand up basses. Anyone who plays a string instrument will most certainly appreciate his incredible work.  Each instrument is visually a work of art with custom detailed inlays from the headstock to the bindings.

Looking good is one thing, but the sound that these instruments make is nothing short of stellar. I stopped by his shop the other day and met two musicians from the Pittsburgh Symphony who have bought a total of 10 instruments from him so far. A violinist has bought two violins and has been inspired to buy two mandolins and ukuleles and is learning how to play bluegrass from Roger (who plays all the instruments he makes).

Roger just buffed out an acoustic dreadnought style guitar that day and we all took a turn playing this wonderful guitar. It was the most amazing sounding instruments I have ever heard. Don’t follow the hype of big builders who mass produce “famous” styles. Get Roger to build you an amazing custom instrument that you will cherish for your lifetime..  Email Roger at rskipper2@verizon.net and tell him The Spiker Team referred you. You will not be sorry!  Also check out his website which is under construction. Skipper Strings. Here is a photo of the handcrafted sunburst dreadnought that is currently for sale.

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Other handy work…

Coming up in Deep Creek on November 29^th & 30^th is the Festival of Trees, a fundraiser for the DoveCenter. Bring the kiddo’s and let them meet Santa Claus at the breakfast celebration between 9am-10am on both Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss the silent action for a great deal on some unique items.

The Honi also has their Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 30^th from 7:00-8:00PM.  Events include: Christmas Carols, Kids and Pet Photos with Santa Claus, FREE Hot Chocolate and live band entertainment by the Remedy from 8-11pm.

There still continue to be a good amount of real estate settlements taking place.  This is a good sign that sales will continue to pick up in 2014.  These properties have recently had price reductions, indicating that the seller’s may have good motivation to sell: http://mrislistings.mris.com/DE.asp?ID=55054075329.

Have a great week and think snowJ!  (I hear we may be getting more of it later in the week.)