Despite some fog and rain and wine, we had a fabulous day exploring, hiking, climbing, eating, sipping and tasting. All the wonderful things we love to do together! I am so thankful that I was able to spend the day with Matt enjoying the senses.
He actually spent a good portion of the morning on a conference call for Great Harvest. We should [crosses fingers] be able to announce our new location within a week – with a hopeful April opening! Things have been moving along, but nothing is definite until we sign on the dotted line.
While Matt worked, I got antcy on Twitter and then opened my gift from Karen!
A beautiful grey sweater from Banana!
And an inside joke perfume to match
Matt emerged from his call with a card in hand – in our typical "blue ink" fashion
And the Bears finally came out of hibernation!! They have been in it for a few months now, storing up for winter.
Car tripppp!
30 minutes later we were on the Blue Ridge Parkway and then at the foot of Humpback Rocks
Where’s the 2!?
And then climbing
I have been on many hikes described as "strenuous" in my life and this was by far the hardest!! Leave it to Cville!
We climbed and scrambled and I was SO TIRED by the time we neared the top. Like I’d done lunges for 30 minutes straight!
But of course, it was worth it…
It was SCARY up there!! I really did feel like the wind was going to blow me over.
We found a hidden alcove and broke into the picnic!
Pears
Which were SO good!
Mmmm!
A giant loaf of walnut bread we picked up from one of the town’s artisan bakeries
Oh yeah!
And cheeses….a soft, my favorite raw bleu, and a hard
Plus veggies and hummus
And FIGS!
I hate lots of these. I grew up eating French picnics of bread and cheese and really can’t think of a better meal!
Coming back down the mountain was easier than up, but still really hard! My legs were totally shaking.
Next stop: you guessed it! Wine tasting!
Sadly the weather turned for the worse, but at least we got through our hike!
We went to Flying Fox
And then Veritas (where we were having a 5 year anniversary of my birthday trip to Cville in 2005!)
Loved the Claret -
Matt bought me a bottle for my bday!
Had a bread snack 
And moved on to Pollak, which may have won the award for best winery of the day!
We absolutely LOVED the whites – and the reds were impressive too. And such a pretty setting. Very impressive overall! [Oh, and the best tasting crackers too!]
We took a short interlude to return home, change clothes, check email, and hop on our bikes before heading back out to dinner. The plan for the night was to play dinner by ear. We didn’t know what we’d be in the mood for. But we decided to try a new mostly local restaurant downtown called Brookville.
The restaurant has a really small menu – just featuring what’s fresh that day. I was quite surprised to NOT see 10-26-10 at the top!! If anyone would notice this date was wrong it was me!
We cheers with a glass of wine each
And chowed down on some delicious homemade cornbread!!
To start I got a Kohlrabi salad with apple and water chestnut
And Matt got cheesy stuffed banana peppers (and shared one!)
For dinner I got a Sausage + Veggie + Feta Frittata. It was quite small, but also not too expensive, so I didn’t have huge expectations. It was actually a great portion for the night, so it ended up being a win. It tasted like a pizza – and I sort of missed the crust!
Matt got Lamb Kebobs, which were also appetizer priced and portioned. Perfecto!
And then….we hit up Sweet Frog. Yes, buttercream is more birthday appropriate. But a yogurt topped with literally EVERY non-fruit topping was calling my name. This was a candy bar with a side of yogurt!! I actually didn’t finish it all – too much to eat!
Back home via bike. Chillin. Thanks to you all for your birthday wishes. I had a great one!!!
{ 156 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful day!
What an absolutely beautiful hike. I am in awe over those pictures. Beautiful!
Gorgeous pics and looks like a fun day!
WOW!! I knew Matt had something up his sleeve but he exceeded my VERY high expectations!! Holy smokes Cville just gets even more gorgeous…if that’s possible. What a day!
Happy Birthday again
Oh I ran 8.2 miles in 82 minutes JUST FOR YOU! No 6 but today is all about the 8.
What a fabulously perfect day!! Happy Birthday Kath!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
What a wonderful birthday you had !! Such beautiful colors on your hike. Only wish my local hikes had trees like that. VERY cool.
I want to just jump into the pictures of the trees! They look like multicolored puff balls
So beautiful.
That loaf of bread looks so good — I am so jealous of your picnic lunch. Enjoy your night!
HAPPY OL’ BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!
Happy Birthday! I think you celebrated the big 26+2 with great style!
Oh my gosh, Kath, that looks like a wonderful birthday! You are truly blessed.
Stunning photos!!! Hope you had a great birthday!
Happy birthday. What an amazing day and such a beautiful view. Matt really does a great job. Have a lovely b-day evening.
Wow! Looks like you had a fantastic day! Your lunch and dessert look amazing, and all the scenery looks absolutely beautiful. I wish we had fall foliage like that here!
Happy Birthday!!
Mmmm, the bread/cheese/fruit picnic does seem like the perfect meal.
Yay for more VA wineries. I have to tell you, I used my blenheim glass today — its a pretty nice glass!
Happy Birthday (again!)
Figs! What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday.
Glad your birthday has been so fabulous! A serious question for you: what brand/color is your eyeshadow? Seems like such a soft subtle lavender/grey. Love it!
It’s Cover Girl Tapestry Taupe with some ELF purple on top!
Happy birthday! Looks like you had an amazing day!
LOVE the sweater! gorgeous view too. happy bday, kath!!
That looks like SUCH a fun day!! You look gorgeous in all your photos Kath. Sounds like 28 might not be so bad after all hey?
Beautiful pics! I feel like the leaves are so colorful this year and turning nice and slow. Everyday when i drive somewhere I try and just admire the beauty of this time of year. It truly is a gift from nature, isn’t it?
Love your new sweater too! Happy bday!
Wow!!
P.S. I love your cardigan!!
xoxo
Those pictures are stunning! You have definitely made me want to visit Cville for myself! Looks like you had a wonderful day!
I just bought that exact same sweater 2 days ago! It’s a beauty. Glad your birthday was wonderful, lots of fabulous photos!
I hope you had a great birthday…it looks like you did! I was in C-ville last weekend and ironically went the same places you did! Went to Humpback Rocks and then did wine tastings at Veritas and Flying Fox! (And Afton and Cardinal Point, too!). I LOVE the Blue Ridge Mountains in that area…you’re lucky to live in such a beautiful place!
If only it wasn’t for UVA, of course! (I’m a Virginia Tech grad!) haha
What a perfect way to spend your birthday — great sights, great wine, great food, great company. Looks like you had an awesome day.
Happy Bday!! Looks like Matt definitely impressed w/ the bday celebration, what a great day
I tried Pollak wine at the Wintergreen wine festival a few weeks ago and ended up picking up a bottle of the Durant White, it was fabulous!
How were the boots for the hike?
GREAT!!
looks like a beautiful hike! can’t believe you did it in boots though
i’m impressed!
They were actually a bit more comfy than tennis shoes – because they were supportive
Happy Birthday!!
Looks like you had the most amazing day! I love that you got an experience, rather than just a present – must talk to my hubby about this kind of thing for my next bday!
fantastic day! Love the blue print card, so cute!
Happy birthday, Kath! Looks like you had a fantastic and beautiful day! Such gorgeous fall vistas – wow!
What an awesome day! The pictures are gorgeous. Don’t you just love this time of year?! Happy Birthday!
Happy happy birthday! Those views are absolutely stunning, and I bet you could not have been paid to quit smiling all day! Matt’s drawing is the CUTEST! and I love how in the bears’ first portrait, the little guy is totally doing a faceplant into his buddy’s shoulder there
You know what would be awesome? Some KERF-style desktop-background-sized photos. Just sayin’.
Beautiful pics!! Happy Birthday, Kath
what a fun filled, happy bday. i am jealous you’re still getting figs!
Happpppy birthdayyyy! For some reason, I get a kick out of when you eat really indulgent foods. You are SOOOOO good at eating naturally 99% of the time, so its so great when you get a HUGE thing of fro-yo
You deserved it for sure!
Gorgeous views!! And you look so beautiful and happy in all of these photos – as usual
Happy birthday!!
I’m envious of those fall colors *and* your hiking food – so much better than a Larabar.
Happy Birthday, Kath! Looks like it was super fun and relaxing! Hope you felt loved and celebrated.
Have a wonderful 29th year! (It starts with your 28th bday, technically.)
Lani
Happy Birthday Kath! You look beautiful in the pics! Where are your boots from?
You’ll see tomorrow!
Those are such gorgeous Fall pictures! And you looked adorable today!
Happy birthday! I’m jealous that you get to have your birthday in a lovely weather month like October. I’ve got February and in my neck of Michigan, it’s usually all slush.
Looks like you had a great birthday and from these pictures it was also a Fabulous hair day!
This sounds like such a fun day! I love the picnic on the hike, I could eat fresh bread and cheese all day
The views are spectacular, I now want to drive down to C-ville and experience them myself.
Beautiful fall photographs!
Matt did a good job.
Such a KERF way to spend a birthday!
Beautiful and spectacular birthday, Kath! I think I would love all of those things; hiking, wine and good eats with the person you love
Great photos and wonderful day, good work Matt!
What a fancy picnic to finish up an intense hike! I normally eat a Clif bar, but I may have to change that after seeing your spread. Happy birthday!
That is an amazing view!
I’m go glad you had a good birthday!
Happy Birthday! You are so adorable, welcome to 28, it’s not so bad
That sweater is gorgeous!
oh my Kath – what a PERFECT way to ceebrate your bday. I must say that your lunch picnic is particularly wonderful!
Those fall colors are just amazing! Thanks for sharing the wonderful pics. Happy birthday!
So I just read (and you probably already know this), but in “Back to the Future,” Doc Brown was headed 25 years into the future to October 26, 2010. Clearly, he wanted to wish you a Happy 26+2, Kath!
I don’t think I knew that!!
A drove the blue ridge parkway in the winter…BAD idea.
That is one winding and very high road!
You drive looked quite lovely with all the fall colours!
Is Brookville the newish place about Escafe at the end of the mall? I must go there to try that lamb.
*above Escafe. Sheesh. I am so tired I can not spell anything right.
Yup!
What a great birthday. I’m very impressed with all C’ville has to offer. It’s on my list of places to visit…..
Gorgeous day! It looks and sounds like a wonderful birthday. Your hair is very pretty pulled back at the sides … the pics where you’re by the fence look like a Ralph Lauren ad!
GOOOOOOOOOORGEOUS! what a beautiful birthday…so glad you guys had fun!
Happy Birthday Kath!! It looks like you had a perfect day
Sounds like the PERFECT day. Happy Birthday!
Oh, you make me homesick! I love Humpback Rocks–my family used to hike up there every Thanksgiving.
What a splendid way to spend your birthday. I love your outfit and your picnic. Cheese, fruit, and bread are my favorite meals. I think I could live off of that combo 3 meals a day.
Happy birthday again!!!!
CUTE outfit! Especially for hiking. Your picnic looks AMAZING! Wonderful veggies with bread & cheese?! YUM! Your birthday looks like it was tasty & fun!
After reading and looking through this whole post, the only thing I can come up with to say is:
You are one of the most beautiful human beings I’ve ever “met”! Happy Birthday, Kath!
Aren’t the leaves ridiculous right now !? So glad you two went up humpback! Well done Matt on planning an awesome day! happy birthday girl !
Happy birthday!! What an amazing day, and an amazing post in your amazing blog to match. You have so much to be proud of! Thank you for sharing it all with us!!
Perfect Day! Looks like you had fun! I love bread & cheese meals
Looks like you had a gorgeous birthday! I am jealous
You and the bears look like you were ready for a day in the country! Your birthday looks so, so fantastic. I hope it was a wonderful time. And of course yogurt is the perfect birthday dessert if it’s what you wanted on your day! :-p I tend to want it every day, which may soon turn into a problem.
What a fun day Matt planned. I’d say he’s a keeper.
And, I love all the photos- especially the ones of the changing leaves. Fall is one of the reasons I love living in VA! Happy b-day again!
What a fantastic day. Happy birthday and many more!
I love C’Ville. It’s breathtaking everyday, especially in Fall where the leaves are all different colors. Looks like you had a successful birthday!! Love your boots! Happy Birthday!
It looks like a beautiful birthday! I am glad you had a good one.
BREATHTAKING photos! I’m glad you had a fabulous birthday. You deserve it.
Looks like I just made it!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Looks like you had a great day.
The hike looks fabulous! Stunning views. and lunch…how delicious! I also love french style picnics. I’m glad you had a great day
Heidi xo
Those pictures make me want to sing “take me home, country roads…”
Happy Birthday!
Hi Kath,
I’m a senior attending the University of Washington in Seattle, and I’ve been following your blog for about a year. Seeing that it’s your birthday, I wanted to finally post a comment and wish you a happy birthday! It looks like you and Matt had a wonderful day – the photos are absolutely breathtaking! I really enjoy reading your blog and looking forward to more amazing posts.
Looks like quite the fun and festive birthday, glad you had a good and special one!!
Happy Birthday KERF!
Ps I love your birthday “cake”!!!!
seems like you had a lovely quiet day out!!
Happy Birthday, Kath
!!!!!!!
As I can see you had one excellent day. What a wonderful husband, town and friends you have– I’m jealous, I hope I get the same on my birthday!
Enjoy
We had such a beautiful hike there a few years ago! It was SO windy and SO cold… but the mist over the changing leaves is magical. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
I love the pictures. Looks like the perfect way to spent a special day!
Happy Brithday!
The first pic is so stunning, the fall color is beautiful.
Those views are breathtaking!
Beautiful hike pictures! and an awesome picnic spread
I’m glad you had a nice day!
Oh the bearsss! Too cute!
Looks like a most excellent birthday! You two are seriously the cutest couple
My dad and younger brother went on a road trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway this past summer–very beautiful and scenic, I wish I could have gone along too.
That picnic looks UH-MAZING! Happy Birthday Kath! It looks like you had a totally awesome day!
its still 10/26 for 15 more minutes where I live, so Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday! Love the Fall color photos!
That looks like the perfect day. : )
You look beautiful! I love the outfit. The scenery is breathtaking, and the picnic sounds scrumptious. Matt did a terrific job.
Btw I order 2 jars of Nuttzo last night using your birthday coupon. My sister and I cannot wait to try it!!! Thank you!!
What an awesome birthday! I’m glad you had a GREAT time.
Congrats about making headway on the Great Harvest location!! Very Exciting!!
what an amazing day and such gorgeous pictures
Wow! What a fantastic birthday. Those views are AMAZING. A perfect picnic spot. In high school, on the first nice day of the Spring, my French teacher would always take us all out to the courtyard with a blanket and a spread of fruits, cheeses and bread to have a French picnic. It was my favorite day of the year.
And your boots ROCK. Want!
I think this is my most favorite post you have ever written. What a lovely way to spend your birthday, doing all the things you love.
On a note about the Kolhrabi, my csa grows it and I had it for the first time this year. I absolutely love it. So crunchy!
Looks like a great day! It’s funny, because my husband just sent me a link to Humback Rocks last night. We’re thinking of driving down this weekend and making the hike so we can see the trees!
Yah, we live on the other side of the mountain from y’all, and humpback rocks is one of our favorite views, but you work to get up there! Aren’t the leaves pretty now? Great photos, and what a picturesque lunch!
Looks like a beautiful day! I hope you had a happy birthday!
Looks like you enjoyed your birthday!
Look at that spreat. Now THAT is the right way to picnic – YUM!
The pictures are stunning. And I love your new sweater. You look so pretty, and it suits you perfectly.
Just a quick question, did you use your new lens for these pics? They look *great*!
Yes!! It hasn’t come off my camera
Wow! What a great birthday! These pictures are all stunning. Hope you have lots of picture frames ready!
Veritas was the first winery I went to when I decided to try the VA Wine Circuit and it converted me! Who needs Napa Valley? I love Pollack too! I’m going to miss all the wineries when I graduate! Visiting the wineries make for a great afternoon!
Looks like a great day!
Love the Parkway pics. I was up at Peaks of Otter this week-end. Best way to spend the week-end – driving the Blue Ridge Parkway. Glad you had a great day. Can’t wait to hear about the Great Harvest store.
Looks like you had a great birthday!! I love those shots in the mountains…we have a house in Blowing Rock, NC and I have been dying to go and photograph the foliage…going up for Thanksgiving. Can’t wait! Happy Birthday again
perfect post,..cheese looks so appealing,.
Awww, what a nice hubby you have to plan the day for you! All of your pictures look really, really nice! The corn bread looks especially delicious
Beautiful! I am going to try to get my husband to go hiking with me this weekend. And, I LOVE french picnics. When hubby and I did a self drive tour of Ireland last Summer i would find a local grocery and pick up some fruit, cheeses, and a yummy loaf of artisan bread. It was so good and saved us a lot of money.
i was so hoping you and matt would try brookville, i’ve been dying to go! the chef has such a good story.. he graduated from uva’s commerce school and had a very lucrative job in investment banking, but left it all to go to culinary school and pursue his love of cooking!
cheers to a lovely birthday with delicious food and beautiful photos
Having grown up in the Valley I have hiked Humpback Rocks many times; it is one of my favorite places to take visiting guests. Can you believe my high school cross-country team would run the Blue Ridge Parkway on our Saturday morning workouts? Anyway if you are up for another great hike I would recommend Crab Tree Falls out by Natural Bridge.
Looks like Matt did an amazing job with your birthday surprise! What a beautiful day! (I don’t mind clouds!) You look fabulous too, love the hair and outfit! I’m glad you had such fun!
Happy birthday Kath!! It looks like you had an awesome birthday!
Don’t you love the blue ridge parkway? My husband proposed there.
Glad you had a fun day, it looked like the perfect birthday!
(And WHERE did you get those boots?? I love them!)
Beautiful pics! Looks like an amazing day!
Happy birthday (again), Kath!!!!!!!
You look SO BEAUTIFUL in these pictures. Happy Birthday!
Love the birthday post! Happy Birthday 10/26+1
Love that sweater! So cute!
Love the boots. I love riding boots… the only thing I hate is the bunching in the knees.
I just bought Jeggings at Ann Taylor Loft…. they are so great for tucking into boots! I was hesitant and thought they’d be weird/cheap looking but they look just like jeans and don’t do that funky bunch in the knees thing. I totally recommend them!
Happy Birthday! Love this post – it makes me feel warm and fuzzy and glad I ended up moving here!
I’m doing humpback this weekend – And I am a total scaredy cat on the top. It takes me a good 10 minutes to get comfortable and really enjoy the view.
Wow! Matt get’s major points for planning such a fun day. I’m going to make Brad call him in April when it’s my birthday.
Looks like you guys had a fabulous time on your birthday.
P.S. I have boots that look just like yours! Mine might be a tad darker. Flat boots are the best!
HAPPY birthday…..OMG i love the view you had from the top…… and the picnic!
PS where are you boots from? i am TOTALLY in love with them!
Looks like an awesome bday! That’s quite an impressive picnic lunch
what beautiful pictures and fun day!
and i love your boots too.
Happy Birthday! Sorry I am a bit late. Looks like Matt planned a great day. The food and scenery look beautiful.
Ah – you need to get some hiking boots and join us on Old Rag – just up the road from you guys. There is a one mile rock “scramble” and it is just like it sounds. A bit of a scramble to get to the top! I have to take my husband or son with me so I can get a boost to climb up and over. Short people must make the necessary adjustments. Really – looks like a fabulous day! Check out http://www.hikingupward.com for more great hikes in our area. Tricia in Fredericksburg, Va.
Glad you had such a nice birthday! Love all the pics!
Happy Birthday! This was my birthday week too (the 22nd) it’s the best time to have fun outdoors with the leaves and crisp air
gEEEEEEEEEEEEEz Matt– WAY. TO.GO. That looks like the absolute most perfect day ever!!!!!!!!
It looks like you had a wonderufl birthday! Beautiful setting, too. Now, you’ve inspired me to take a trip to the mountains soon.
You look great in all your pictures, glad you had a nice birthday!
Looks like a fabulous day with gorgeous views:-)cc
That sounds like the perfect day!
Looks like an awesome day! Bread and cheese is one of my favorite meals as well!
The sweater and the picturesque views are amazing! Great way to start off your year.
Happy Birthday!!! monson drew pictures of all of our stuffed animals on my bday card too! brother like brother, sounds like an amazing day!
Excellent day!!!! Loved your sweater from Karen- it looks awesome on you!
Yum! What a lovely way to spend your birthday. Happy birthday to you girl!
Happy birthday – I am glad the business stuff is shaping up. I really hope you either a) start a blog about being a business owner or b) include lots of info on your blog. I am so interested in how it goes for you. I am much more the corporate type than a entreprenuer, so I wish you guys the best and hope we get to hear LOTS about it.
The picnic looked amazing!! Now I am craving figs and cheese
‘ hope it’s not too late…but Happy Boitday!!! Looked like you had a very good day and your pictures all look amazing! I love the Bears!
Nice photos!
GORGEOUS scenery!!! Such an incredible day!
Fingers crossed for the Great Harvest location!
Kath – it looks like you had a perfect birthday – the hike, the picnic, the wineries and your super cute new boots! Happy birthday one day late!!!
What a great birthday! I went hiking at Humpback Rocks this weekend too; the reward at the top is definitely worth the tough climb, especially when the leaves are changing. Great pics (as usual) and happy birthday to you!
1. That looks like the perfect birthday!
2. The views in CVille are so stunning!
3. I LOVE French picnics like that.
I’m glad you had such an amazing day.
Kath! My husband and I did the Blue Ridge Parkway last week on Wednesday, and it’d been raining/foggy as well. Luckily, that makes for some beautiful pictures, doesn’t it? I love the mountains this time of year.
So glad you had a wonderful day with Matt!
Gorgeous… those pictures just make me SO happy!!!! I love fall, and photography and great food
I hope you had a fantastic b-day!