... I would still plant my apple tree: Hiking

Showing posts with label Hiking. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

If only I'd brought my camera...

A few years ago we started celebrating my Mother's Day on Saturday instead of Sunday. This means we can honor my Mother-in-Law on Sunday and I don't get grouchy about having to cook dinner on Mother's Day.

I've noticed quite a bit of back lash against Mother's Day out in cyber world lately. And, I get it, I do. I know that there is certainly the potential for people who wish to be mothers, or for people who have lost their children to feel hurt. I hope that those individuals, and all those who are hurting, have people who love and nurture them. Not just on one day, but every day. I don't want fancy gifts (but I never really want those). I don't want to go to an expensive restaurant (in fact, taking the kids to a fancy restaurant is sometimes more stressful than cooking at home). I don't want to be worshiped and praised all day (a little of that goes a long way). But, I do want a day off.

Around here there are two days that each of us get to have the day just the way we want it - birthdays and Mother's/Father's Day. Those days are usually simple. The Woodsman often chooses to celebrate Father's Day by having a large portion of the day to himself to run without feeling guilty that he's leaving us behind. Then he likes to get to decide what's for dinner (a decision which is usually firmly in my territory).

On Mother's Day I ask for very little. I don't want to cook. I don't want to do laundry. And I want the house to be clean. Usually there are some sweet handmade cards and breakfast (which get increasingly better each year as the kids improve their cooking skills). Often, if the weather is good, there's a hike and maybe a picnic or lunch at a favorite restaurant.

This year everyone let me sleep in (until 8:30 - that's about 4 hours longer than I usually get). Then they made a breakfast of soppy eggs, bagels with cream cheese, strawberries and coffee. After breakfast I tooled around on the computer and took life easy while they did their morning chores (supervised by Daddy so I didn't have to fuss at anyone). Then we headed off to The Boy's soccer game. After the game we went to a local employee owned restaurant called The Little Grill. With our bellies full of good food (I had the Tempe Ruben - to die for... yum) we headed off to Shenandoah National Park for an afternoon of hiking some of the waterfall trails.

Here is when I started kicking myself for not bringing the camera. I would have taken pictures of:
the glorious waterfalls and sparkling rivers
the kids dipping their heads in the ice cold streams when they got too hot and the water streaming down their backs
the trillium - pink and white and perfect
the Jack in the Pulpit
the myriads of other wild flowers whose names I don't know (because I also forgot the wildflower identification book)
the sunlight peeking through the trees and making each water droplet look like a little diamond
the kids climbing on every rock they could find and bounding over them like little sure footed mountain goats
the green green green of mosses and fiddle head ferns
the view across the valley with shadows cast on the mountains
the view of the Shenandoah slipping away below with the ripples flashing white foam
the rainbow that came out of the clouds and stretched across the sky to end at the top of Kennedy's Peak
the coffee double chocolate banana strawberry and hot fudged topping ice cream sundays we had for dessert

So, I understand disliking the commercialism of Mother's Day. I understand not wanting to cause pain in others who might find Mother's Day to be a difficult one. But, I don't understand not wanting to celebrate and thank our mothers. Much of what we do for our families isn't glorious and it isn't noticed. We do a lot that's "behind the scenes". Everyone craves and deserves the chance to be thanked and to be spoiled just a little. I think we also disenfranchise our children when we don't give them the chance to share their little efforts.
the pot of dirt sitting under the grow lights that my kids swear has cactus seeds planted
the Acrostic Poem the Boy wrote
Magical
Outstanding
Terrific
Healthy
Eleagant
Ruler
the glitter bedecked card created weeks ago by The Girl and carefully hidden then presented at breakfast

We all need to know we're loved. So, I say, instead of disavowing Mother's Day why not just love on someone who needs to be Mothered?

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Falls Ridge: Hiking in the George Washington National Forest

It's a chilly morning here. The wood stove is heating up, and the coffee is brewed. The sky looks like snow, and I'm dreaming (and hoping) for the day when I'll look up toward the mountain and won't be able to see it because it will be covered by a snow storm cloud heading our way.

The mountain has had snow once this fall already (result of Sandy). So, a few days after that storm we hiked to the top. We had a great time playing in the snow, and a taste of what (hopefully) is to come.

The Falls Ridge trail is one of our favorites. We almost never see anyone else out there. It's got great views. It's fairly short (4 miles) and we can usually do it in a few hours. It's steep so you also get a great workout.

To get there find the town of Jerome, VA. When you see the church turn right onto Dellinger Gap. Follow that road to the end (it will turn to dirt). Cross the creek and you'll see the trail. Follow the Fat Mountain Trail first, then head up the mountain to Falls Ridge. There is a short spur trail halfway up the mountain that takes you to the falls. Eventually you will make it to the top of North Mountain and the junction of the North Mountain Trail and the Stack Rock Trail. Stack Rock can be followed down if you want to make a loop.

Our kids are used to hiking steep trails so this is a good choice for them, but this is probably not the best choice for little kids or ones who aren't used to hiking.

Farmer Dan, Soccer Boy and Reading Girl create a cairn to mark the trail.

The woodsman on the steepest part of the trail.

View of the village of Jerome, VA

Wintergreen

Snow!

Getting Daddy!

American Chestnut burr

My Dad was really excited to find this American Chestnut burr. He said that the trees don't usually grow big enough to produce seed pods. Maybe they will eventually come back from the blight.

American Chestnut Tree and Leaf

At the top

Another View of the village of Jerome

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Outdoors in October I: Campout and Hike at Tibet Knob, George Washington National Forest

Every fall we invite our friends to camp out at our house. The canning is usually done, the garden has frosted over and the gnats are history. So, we sit around the fire, talk, eat and enjoy catching up with each other.

This year there were some really great recipes. We had mountain pies on Friday (post to follow soon), and baked potatoes with toppings on Saturday. But, there were also some excellent covered dishes.

Oregon Girls's Vegan Gluten Free Sweet Potato Chili

Adapted from The Gluten Free Goddess

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

3-6 cloves garlic, to taste, minced

1 teaspoon each: cumin, chili powder and ginger

1 medium red or sweet onion, chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped

1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, diced

1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, diced

2 cups sweet potatoes, cubed

3 cups gluten-free broth

1 28-oz. can Muir Glen Fire Roasted Whole Tomatoes, diced or broken up, with juice

1 cup chopped green chiles- mild or hot, as you prefer

2 14-oz. cans black beans, rinsed, drained

1 14-oz. can white Northern beans, or red kidney beans, rinsed, drained

1 tablespoon golden balsamic vinegar or rice vinegar

1 tablespoon organic raw agave nectar

1 large fresh lime- for juice and garnish

Instructions:

To assemble in a slow cooker:

Drizzle the olive oil in the bottom of the cooker; add the garlic and spices and stir to combine.

Add the remaining ingredients except the lime juice. Gently stir with a wooden spoon or vinyl spatula (you don't want to mash the beans) to mix. Cover and follow the manufacturer's instructions for slow cooking a chili with canned (not dried beans). I cooked mine on low for five to six hours, for example.

West Virginia Baked Ziti

Cook 1 lb Hamburger; season with salt, pepper, garlic and onion to your taste.

Cook Ziti noodles half time.
In large bowl mix cooled hamburger, 2 c. Ricotta cheese, ziti noodles, and one 8 oz package of mozarella and one 8 oz package of parmesean.
Pour a small layer of your favorite tomate sauce on bottom of baking dish, add half of mixture, add another layer of sauce and 1/2 package of mozarella cheese, add remaining mixture, a layer of sauce and remaing cheese and bake in a 350 oven for 30 min. or until hot.

Equine Lover's Asian Lentil Salad

1. Cook lentils in vegetable broth for about 20 mins. Check for doneness often, as you don't want them to be mushy, but a little on the al dente side. Cool completely.
2. Chop celery, sweet or purple onion and carrots finely. Can also add peppers. Ithink yellow would be good. Add to lentils. Season w/ S & P.

Ginger Sesame Dressing
1/4 c. Rice vinegar
1/4 c. Orange juice

2 T soy sauce

2 T peanut butter
1 T sesame oil
1 T brown sugar
1 garlic clove crushed
2 tsp. fresh ginger minced
Blend all together in a blender, food processor or smoothie maker.

House and Senate's Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

1 (16 oz.) pkg. macaroni
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 (13 oz.) can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded jack cheese
1/2 cup melted butter
Preparation:

Cook macaroni in boiling salted water, following package directions. Drain well. Grease bottom and sides of 3 1/2 to 5-quart crockpot. Toss hot macaroni in slow cooker with the vegetable oil then add all remaining ingredients. Stir gently to combine then cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Then, we always take one morning to do this hike. It's the back side of Tibet Knob in the George Washington National Forest.

To get to the backside of this trail from Woodstock, VA...

Head West on Rt. 42 (Away from town). Make your first right onto Wolf Gap Rd. Stay on Wolf Gap until you get to Liberty Furnace (a huge old iron furnace with a working water wheel). Turn right onto Sam Clark Road. Then take a left on Judge Rye Road. Follow the road to the top and you'll see the trail head on the right. The blazes are yellow. Judge Rye is a windy, dirt road. Be sure to drive slow.

This is a great hike for kids! There are tons of rocks to climb and explore, and it's an easy hike. There are also great views at the end.

This time Farmer Dan, The Ball Boss (and his family) and Reading Girl's best friend - Crafty Girl - came with us.

Looking out across into West Virginia (toward Lost City)

Can't wait to do it again next year!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Western Virginia Hike 1: Big Schloss Cut Off Trail, George Washington National Forest

This is one of our favorite trails. It's fairly short, there are lots of rocks for the kids to climb, it's steep so you get a good workout, there's a good view at the top and it's only about 20 min. from our house. If you're in the Western Virginia or D.C. area it would make a great fall hike. I wouldn't recommend this for young kids. Wonderful views in both directions.