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You are here: Home / Charlottesville / Have you met Mother Earth?

April 10, 2011

Have you met Mother Earth?

She’s REALLY nice!!! I had a great time hanging out with her today.

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Faith, Tate, Matt and I drove way out into the countryside

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And up a mountain

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To Shenandoah National Park!

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We hiked to South River Falls, 83’ of gorgeous waterfalls

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It was quite sad and gross to see a deer (?) carcass caught in the falls

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Our hike to the falls was not very long – only about 2.25 miles. But Tate was ready for lunch!

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We brought a picnic of cheese, bread, and sandwich toppings. Plus we shared two apples. The cheese on the left was from my Philly Homegrown kit and was perfectly delicious atop my sandwich! Sharp and ever-so-slightly crunchy. We also had a Gorgonzola Dolce from Feast! that was also incredible, and a cheddar that Faith brought. Plus lots of Dakota bread!

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I made a sandwich and had carrots and cheese on the side

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Munch.

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Faith brought dessert – flourless almond butter oatmeal cookies and manna bread!!!! LOVE that manna bread and all its malty taste

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After lunch we packed in about 4 more miles, including a visit to the Appalachian Trail! Dad this is for you!

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Moose Drool representin’. Gotta mesh with Mother Earth’s personality.

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GREAT GREAT hike + day!

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Afterwards, we headed down more country roads to Sweely Estate Winery where Faith bought me a birthday Groupon for a free tasting and cheese plate!! Yes, my birthday was back in October, and we’ve celebrated it twice this weekend! The four of us had been waiting for a warm free day!

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We started with our lovely tasting.

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My favorites were the 2007 Sweely Estate Viognier – which had a floral nose and reminded me of watermelon and meyer lemon – and the 2007 Sweely Estate Cabernet Franc, a blend of 78% cab franc, 14% malbec, 5% petit verdot and 3% merlot. The wine maker at Sweely is from Bordeaux and he loves to blend, so I love his wines! I feel that blends make the best wines because the grapes can really compliment each other and create a great balance on the palate. I really enjoyed all of their wines very much!

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We ended up buying a bottle of the Cab Franc and enjoying it in the sunshine with our cheese plate

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The cheese plates were quite good as well – French goat cheese and brie, grapes and some delicious herby sausage.

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These crackers also rocked!

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We said goodbye to a fabulous afternoon and headed home.

Matt and I didn’t have much of an appetite after such a large snack, so we just made salads for dinner.

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KERF base salad dressed in olive oil and honey with walnuts, cherries and hummus

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We went on a walk after dinner to discuss business and digest and then I had a bite of this Philly Homegrown Urban Garden Mint chocolate.

Talk about a bite of a garden! This wasn’t your typical mint – it was like fresh herb mint. Very very delicious and unique!

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Evening plans include a bubble bath!! I cleaned the bathtub yesterday and I’m all stinky sweaty from our long hike and wall.

I have less than 100 pages left in The Thornbirds!! I am very excited to read a modern novel after I put this one to bed ; )

Filed Under: Charlottesville

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Comments

  1. kellyo says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    Looks like a great day!

    Reply
  2. Chad says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    I love this park – I’ve got a brother that lives near it.

    Reply
  3. lynn @ the actor's diet says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    i miss doing this kinda stuff so much – hiking and eating and being in nature. when things calm down for me in a few weeks i am definitely taking some inspiration and going to a park! looks beautiful.

    Reply
  4. Eileen says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    Looks like an amazing day! Roughly how far away was the park from Charlottesville? My DH and I are researching anniversary trips somewhere, and we are hoping to hike a small portion of the AT during the trip. So far, I have us either in central Pennsylvania or Va. 🙂

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      April 10, 2011 at 8:19 pm

      I think it was about a 40 minute drive?

      Reply
  5. Hilary says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:15 pm

    Beautiful, delicious, delightful…looks like a wonderful Sunday!

    Reply
  6. Ellie@fitforthesoul says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:16 pm

    omgoooodnessss!! I sooo wish I could visit your area someday!! the more beautiful pictures I see, the more I wanna visit. 😀 awesome time!

    Reply
  7. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    Time with friends, wine, hunks of brie and crackers and manna bread and salads, time outside, the gorgeous love that is in these pics (both for your friends and your husband)..Kath, such a wonderful post!

    Glad you had an amazing day! I love your collage pics, too. It takes me awhile to create them in LR. I need to get faster like you are, obvi!

    Have a wonderful week and enjoy your bubble bath!

    Reply
  8. Christine says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:22 pm

    So what are you reading next?

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      April 10, 2011 at 8:23 pm

      Haven’t decided

      Reply
      • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says

        April 10, 2011 at 9:59 pm

        Room by Emma Donoghue is really good. I’m reading that right now.

        Reply
        • Lea @ Healthy Coconut says

          April 11, 2011 at 11:38 am

          May I recommend “Water for Elephants”. The movie is coming out this summer starring Reese Witherspoon and the book is great.

          Reply
  9. Michelle | Gold-hearted Girl says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:24 pm

    How fun! Looks like an amazing day! That’s my kind of double date!

    Reply
  10. Joyce @ Flowing to Fifty says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:36 pm

    A perfect day of almost-summer, definitely-spring — including good friends and wine! Sweet!!

    Reply
  11. Lauren says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    I have met mother earth…she’s pretty rockin’. I am going to the same park to go camping and hiking in a couple weeks with my dude! It looks beautiful, your pictures make me excited!!!

    Reply
  12. Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    What a lovely picnic! Looks like a wonderful day – especially the wine part! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Holly @ The Runny Egg says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    Those sausage slices and crackers look so delicious!

    What a fun day — we took a talk around the neighborhood but I wish we had gone out more to explore. Maybe next weekend 🙂

    Reply
  14. Cindy says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    What a fun day!

    Reply
  15. Andrea @ a farmer in the dell says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    What a lovely Sunday! That chocolate sounds really interesting and good. I am looking it up right now!

    Reply
  16. Justeen @ Blissful Baking says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    What a lovely day! The pictures of you + Matt and Tate + Faith are too cute!

    Reply
  17. Dishes of Mrs. Fish says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    What a beautiful day! 🙂 I’m jealous of all that cheese and wine!

    Reply
  18. Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    Aww, what a beautiful day! Yay, for you guys!!

    Reply
  19. J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    Looks like a wonderful hike! So beautiful. So sad about the deer, though. 😥

    Reply
    • Zoe says

      April 10, 2011 at 9:13 pm

      Nature happens!

      Reply
  20. B & B says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    Looks amazing. The hike – and the cheese plate of course 🙂

    What’s the topping in the salad picture? It looks like Hummus! (but you said walnuts?)

    Reply
  21. Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    what a wonderful hike! It makes me really miss the blue ridge mountains as I went to college at JMU. sighh Chicago just doesn’t have mountains near by! 🙁

    Reply
  22. Sarah says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:07 pm

    Hey I was just wondering if you had Faith’s flourless almond butter oatmeal cookies recipe? Sounds delicious!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      April 10, 2011 at 10:11 pm

      I was wondering the same! They look so good!!

      Reply
    • KathEats says

      April 11, 2011 at 6:49 am

      I don’t have it but I bet she does!

      Reply
    • faith says

      April 11, 2011 at 9:31 am

      Thanks for asking but there were pretty thrown together and not really “share” worthy, I have a plethora of almond butter though so I’ll experiment and give all the deets soon.

      Reply
  23. Stacy @ Every Little Thing says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    Your intro is funny. It reminds me of being at a Phish show. This major hippie was watching people continuously throw bottled water and beer cans into an overflowing trash can (and thus onto the ground) and the hippie started yelling “What did Mother do to you?!!??!”

    It was awesome haha

    Reply
  24. Zoe says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    I thought that spot looked familiar! Four friends and I recently did a four-day backcountry camping trip starting at the South River Picnic Area! It was an amazing experience. Our last day took us 6 miles along the Appalachian Trail, and inspired my boyfriend to begin planning his thru-hike (that’s the WHOLE thing).
    I have to say, our hiking fare was not nearly as lovely as yours.

    Reply
  25. Vanessa says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    I love hikes like this!! Can never go wrong with a wine tasting either!

    Reply
  26. staceyhealthylife says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    What a fun day spent with good friends and lots of good cheese!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  27. Dimple Snatcher says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    What a fabulous day: good friends, good food! WIN-WIN!

    Reply
  28. Krystina (Organically Me) says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    Wow this sounds like a heavenly day! Gorgeous views!

    Reply
  29. Namaste Gurl says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    Looks like a wonderful day with friends! How I adore hiking with nature and pinics 🙂

    Reply
  30. Carter G says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    The crackers look just like Trader Joe’s Pita Bite Crackers. I bought some of the whole wheat ones today. Delish and perfect with hummus!

    Reply
  31. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

    April 10, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    A glorious day to spend on hiking. It’s freakishly hot here in Florida for such activity. Sigh.

    Reply
  32. Lizzie says

    April 10, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    Those cookies sound so good! Do you have the recipe for Faith’s flourless almond butter oatmeal cookies?

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      April 11, 2011 at 6:50 am

      She might have it on her blog

      Reply
  33. Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says

    April 10, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    What an awesome day! That hiking area looks incredible. And what a perfect day weather-wise to enjoy the outdoors. 🙂

    Reply
  34. Angel7 says

    April 10, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    I am all about yummy cheese, especially Gorgonzola!

    What a fun, adventurous day you all had!

    http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  35. Emma (Namaste Everyday) says

    April 10, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    what a lovely day! i have really been itching to see a waterfall lately–so gorgeous!

    Reply
  36. Jessica says

    April 10, 2011 at 10:27 pm

    The countryside near you is absolutely beautiful! I visited Charlottesville this weekend, and on Saturday we made a drive to Lynchburg. I loved the scenery along the way. Charlottesville was fun!

    Reply
  37. jaclyn@lifeoftodayslady says

    April 10, 2011 at 10:33 pm

    LOVE hikes!! Especially hikes where you pack a yummy lunch like that!! Beautiful pictures!!

    Reply
  38. JenATX says

    April 10, 2011 at 10:45 pm

    what a great day 🙂 i’m jealous, its already blazing hot down here in Texas (well, only 90 degrees) so hiking around just doesnt sound appealing even though we do have nice trails in the hill country.

    Reply
  39. Julie @ Lettuce Choose Healthy says

    April 10, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    I love all your nature pictures!!

    Reply
  40. Buster says

    April 10, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    I would have a hard time hanging out with you. It seems that you unfold your life for the camera which I find to be very narcissistic. How can you enjoy a meal with having to “set” up every shot? Just saying…..

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      April 11, 2011 at 6:50 am

      Well you must be new to the blogging world. Nice to meet you too.

      Reply
    • faith says

      April 11, 2011 at 9:33 am

      I’ve found that I actually enjoy food even a little more than usual when I eat with Kath because we always take the time to look at and appreciate what we’re eating before digging in.

      Reply
    • JessicaEn says

      April 11, 2011 at 9:40 am

      This comment baffles me…. I mean… its a FOOD blog.

      Reply
      • Bridget says

        April 11, 2011 at 11:18 am

        Buster: “unfolding her life” (as you put it) is much more informative, entertaining, and inspirational than narcissistic to thousands, yes thousands!!, of blog readers. If you find Kath’s blog uncomfortable to read; please stop. And once you stop reading, we won’t have to bear your dreadful comments.

        Reply
  41. Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says

    April 10, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    WHat pretty falls 🙂 Love cheese plates as well!!!

    Reply
  42. Hannah says

    April 10, 2011 at 11:06 pm

    Can’t decide what I want more… the almond cookies or your vibrant salad at the end of the post! Just as well I don’t have to decide in reality 😛

    Reply
  43. Alaina says

    April 10, 2011 at 11:36 pm

    That looks like such a beautiful hike! My husband has done parts of the Appalachian Trail. He really wants me to hike it with him. We’ll see! 🙂

    Reply
  44. Khushboo says

    April 10, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    Good food, great friends, fun exercise = a perfect day to me!

    Reply
  45. Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says

    April 10, 2011 at 11:46 pm

    looks like a perfect day! i was outside from 930am until 6pm myself… love love love the warmer months. 🙂

    Reply
  46. Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says

    April 10, 2011 at 11:55 pm

    Gourmet eating even when hiking! I love it!

    Reply
  47. Hannah @ Healthy Life says

    April 11, 2011 at 1:03 am

    Looks like a fab day! We also spent much of the sunny day here outside- it relaxes you so much!

    Reply
  48. hippierunner says

    April 11, 2011 at 2:38 am

    Awwww everyone’s so lovey-dovey! I love it!

    Reply
  49. Amelia (Eating Made Easy) says

    April 11, 2011 at 5:40 am

    Kath, I love your life! I love mine too, but your little excursions look like the perfect mix of friends, food, and enjoyment of the outdoors. So fun to see!

    Reply
  50. Simply Life says

    April 11, 2011 at 6:14 am

    wow, what a fun day!

    Reply
  51. antigone says

    April 11, 2011 at 6:30 am

    Wait. . . Modern novel??? Thornbirds was written in the last half of the twentieth century!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      April 11, 2011 at 6:51 am

      I mean set in this decade. The Thornbirds is set decades ago

      Reply
  52. Jumanah @ Healthy Living in the Middle East says

    April 11, 2011 at 6:30 am

    What a fun day! What a delicious cheese plate! YUM!

    Reply
  53. Sarah (Running To Slow Things Down) says

    April 11, 2011 at 6:34 am

    Such a FUN day! My brother hike the Appalachian Trail a couple years back, so seeing the symbol always brings back memories of shipping food out to him and visiting him along the trail. Good times for all. 😀

    Reply
  54. Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says

    April 11, 2011 at 6:40 am

    We spent the weekend in the country and it really did rejuvenate us. The fresh air felt so good! Looks like you all had a great time too!

    Reply
  55. Karen says

    April 11, 2011 at 7:09 am

    Oh how I love a day spent taking in the wonders of nature…very much enjoyed this collection of photos!

    Reply
  56. Atsuko says

    April 11, 2011 at 7:30 am

    Gorgeous hiking! I love hiking, which is my favorite exercise of all. Somehow I always felt that hiking lunch was boring and not tasty as one had to carry, but I learned from this your archive that there are deliciously healthy hiking to-go lunch! There are more than soggy tuna sandwich, lol. Next hiking I will definitely pack a block of cheese and a loaf of bread. Thanks!

    Reply
  57. alana (at) the food says

    April 11, 2011 at 7:31 am

    thanks very much…now i’m gonig to spend my workday dreaming of CHEESE!!!!!!!!!!!
    mmmmm

    Reply
  58. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says

    April 11, 2011 at 7:31 am

    Umm can we trade lives? You can study for my exams for me and I’ll go on hikes and drink wine? 😉

    Reply
  59. Molly says

    April 11, 2011 at 7:43 am

    Almond butter oatmeal cookies? I need these!

    Reply
  60. Dee says

    April 11, 2011 at 7:55 am

    what a fun day!

    Reply
  61. Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen says

    April 11, 2011 at 8:21 am

    Aww such great photos of your and Matt- that hike looks awesome!

    Reply
  62. Jess (Sweet Potato) says

    April 11, 2011 at 9:23 am

    This post has me wondering why I dont hike more…

    Reply
  63. Lauren says

    April 11, 2011 at 9:30 am

    Kath – Have you guys hiked Crabtree Falls? If not, I highly recommend it. It’s the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi. Check it out…

    http://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/CrabtreeFalls/

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      April 11, 2011 at 11:00 am

      Not yet! I bookmarked it. Thanks!

      Reply
  64. Allison @ Happy Tales says

    April 11, 2011 at 10:34 am

    What a fuuuuun day! And it’s never too late to celebrate a birthday!

    PS. I LOOOOVE the sequence of pictures where matt sneaks a kiss on you! SO ADORABLE!

    Reply
  65. becca (bellebottoms) says

    April 11, 2011 at 10:49 am

    what a wonderful day! I have to say, you live in a BEAU-tiful part of the country!! 🙂

    Reply
  66. Shannon @ My Place In The Race says

    April 11, 2011 at 11:52 am

    There’s nothing like a day hiking 😀 Great pics!

    Reply
  67. Anne P says

    April 11, 2011 at 5:30 pm

    So jealous!!!! Shenandoah is my favorite 🙂 I recommend Old Rag (full day and super challenging with AWESOME views) or White Oak Canyon trail (pretty water)!

    Reply
  68. Becky O'Brien says

    April 11, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    Kath ~ So glad you got to have two great birthday celebrations! Definitely worth waiting for. And, after all that wonderful outdoor nature experience, good to know you weren’t surrounded by indoor toxic chemicals when you came home, including in the bathtub.

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      April 11, 2011 at 7:42 pm

      Freshly cleaned with Scour Off the day before!

      Reply
  69. Becky O'Brien says

    April 11, 2011 at 11:30 pm

    Cool.

    Reply
  70. Aundra says

    April 12, 2011 at 8:03 am

    Oh, fantastic! I’m about to make my first trek to the Shenandoah area next week. Looks wonderful!! Have you ever camped there?

    Reply
  71. Charise says

    April 12, 2011 at 8:20 am

    This sounds like an absolutely fabulous time! Hiking through beautiful scenery, wine tasting, yummy cheese – that’s my kind of day!

    Reply
  72. Lara says

    April 13, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    Ooooh! A new (to me) winery! Have you been out to Delfosse Winery & Vineyard in Faber? My hubby & I had our wedding reception there. They’ve got some hiking trails on the property too. Claude (owner & wine maker) is also from France and he makes a mean Viognier and Cab Franc too! Check it out!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      April 13, 2011 at 12:46 pm

      Not yet!

      Reply

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