Last Friday, after visiting the Elkton bur oak, we spent some time in Shenandoah National Park.
This is early spring on The Big Meadow.
Silas, who is walking these days more than he’s crawling, took his first steps on the meadow.
We hope to return in late May to see the baby deer that should be arriving soon.
I have been planning to give away a copy of Style, Sex, and Substance
If you are interested in winning, just mention so in your comment on this post and I will randomly choose a winner on Monday.
I was merely pretending to read in my photo. On the other hand, If you will notice Jonny’s bowed head in this photo: He later confessed that while I was taking photos of the kids he was sneaking a peek inside the book. Were I the betting type, I’d bet he was reading from chapter four. If you want to know what chapter four is about, I guess you’ll have to read the book.
I did not ask Beatrix to pose, but did turn to find her holding my book just so from her seat in the grass. I am guessing that she was “reading” chapter five, “Single and Seeking God’s Plan.”
After our fun on Big Meadow we decided to torture ourselves with a downhill hike to see Rose River Falls.
The falls were beautiful and worth the torture of the uphill hike back. Jonny carried Beatrix on his back, and I carried Silas on mine. But at some point, I started thinking that I might just have to spend the night in the woods. Jonny offered to carry Silas in his arms in addition to the B-Rose on his back claiming that it was good training for the Tough Mudder. I took him up on his offer, but still barely made it back to the car.
Silas insisted on getting down and walking a bit himself.
On our way out of the park we saw lots of does. I branded them all “Mama Deer” and hung out the passenger window with my camera speaking to them in my sing- songy- talk- to- animals- love- language. I was convinced that all of them looked pregnant and thanked them in advance for the sweet little spotted babies that we will hopefully see next month.
The last wild animal we spotted, (after stopping in the middle of Skyline Drive so Jonny could gobble gobble at a male turkey for a few minutes) was this raccoon. I had never actually seen one in a tree in the wild before. I am more accustomed to seeing raccoons shoveling cat food into their mouths as fast as they can while maintaining eye contact with me through the window.
Don’t forget to mention Style, Sex and Substance in your comment, if you would like to be entered in the giveaway!
The winner is Misty:
“Hi Ginny,
We drove from Charlottesville south through the Blue Ridge Parkway for our Easter vacation and saw some similar sights. It was so refreshing to be in the mountains and just experiencing nature firsthand. I cannot believe how grown up Silas looks in that photo – wasn’t he just born?!
Also – I would really enjoy the book as well. Thanks for offering it on your site.”
I have seen that book mentioned on almost every blog I read, so I would love to have a copy! And your pictures have me dreaming about our move to near the Shenandoah in the Fall.
Would love a signed copy of Sex, Style, and Substance! Always looking for great Catholic reads. Great photos as usual, by the way!
Looking forward to reading this book-thanks for the giveaway. By the way, I love Bea’s word…catholicness. It put a big smile on my face today.
This book sounds fantastic to me! I would love to win it, but will be happy to find it in our library system if I don’t. It is nice to share in this “Catholicness” with you Ginny. Thanks for the recommendation!
Style, Sex and Substance looks like a great book! Thanks for offering one as a giveaway!
What amazing scenery and picktures, as always. I am interested in Style, Sex and Substance as well 🙂 I think its nothing short of heroic that you hiked with Silas on your back…even if only for a short time. Good for you for getting out there with the whole family! Blessings xx
Hilarious as usual–great way to start my day !
Great photos, and I have heard nothing of the book except your recommendation, but that is good enough for me.
Thanks for offering this! I’d love to win _Style, Sex and Substance _!
Ohh, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on this book! We would love a copy. I’m a Catholic oddball just like you, blogging in the world. Your life is a beautiful witness to me, and your children’s faces are just a delight to see. I’m getting more and more excited about welcoming our fifth! Blessings Ginny!
Sounds like a great adventure. I love water and wish we had a water fall near us. Thanks for the giveaway of Style, Sex and Substance. I would really like to win a copy and see what is so interesting about chapter four!
What beautiful scenery and photos! I would love to enter your contest, too. Do you ship to Canada?
Wow what an awesome trip! You take the most amazing photos ever! By the way I have heard good things about Style Sex and Substance and would love to win! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
What a beautiful place. I’ve been reading your blog for quite sometime now and love hearing about all the knitting, reading and adventures your little family takes. I’d love a chance to win the book.
Ginny,
I just love reading your posts! Your pictures are always beautiful but it’s your heart that I “hear” through your words and I just think you are pretty wonderful. 🙂
P.s. I tried to convince our group of guys to do the Tough Mudder but they weren’t up for it this year. Hopefully next year! 🙂 We are rooting for Johnny!!
Your description of the raccoon was spot on! Living in the suburbs for so long has made me consider our backyard the “wild”. Beautiful pictures!
I can’t believe Silas is walking around already! What lovely photos. I’ve seen the book all over the Catholic internet — would love to win it!
Just beautiful! Thank you for the book giveaway!!! I too am a Catholic oddball, living a quiet life in GA….with no other Catholic oddballs around me 🙁
Beautiful photos Ginny. Everytime I see your pictures I miss Va!
I would love a chance to win your giveaway.
What a great day to be in such a wonderful place. We just don’t have that kind of scenery in Texas. Would love to win the book.
Such lovely scenery! I’d like a chance to win the book.Thanks.
I have hiked the same falls trail and yes it can be a killer. I would love a copy of the book.
I would love to win this book you so beautifully photoed!! I cannot believe that Silas is walking around and looking so toddler like 🙂
Beautiful as always….I would love to win a copy too…my husband thinks I’ve officially reached my max of Amazon book purchases for the month (as if it were possible to have too many books in the house!) and I’m dying to get my hands on a copy of this one 🙂
Looks like you all had another wonderful day, the photo’s are great! the pinkness (is that a Beatrix word?) in them goes well with the book cover!
I would love to win a copy of style, sex and substance, what could chapter 4 possibly be about?
Haven’t been on the skyline drive in eons, but it’s as gorgeous as i remember it. The waterfall would have been worth an overnight in the wood (maybe); we’ve been so dry our waterfalls aren’t falling. Beatrix and the book–what a delightful picture!!!
Lovely pictures. And the book…sounds really interesting!
I would love a copy of Style, Sex and Substance as you have made it sound very intriguing. I am presuming Beatrix is not growing up too fast! I live in the U.K. though.
Sandra
What a wonderful day! (and I would love to read the book!)
Would love a copy. I’ve met a couple of the authors in person and they are lovely. And I need to take my kids hiking!
These photos cracked me up. Bea reading the book?! If she’s interested, I’m interested!
you always make me laugh so hard!!!
Love the pictures. I would love to win the book too 🙂
Gorgeous pics are always 🙂 And the book sounds great!
I would love to be entered! I’ve heard so much buzz about this book. 🙂 Your photographs are lovely!
Your pictures are wonderful as always. It looks like an amazing place to visit.
Your photos are just lovely. My 4 year old is into Racoons for some reason. We’ll never see them here, much less in a tree. Thanks for sharing!
Would appreciate a chance at the book.
Shenandoah has been added to our D.C. bucket list. I think we will head there in May as well. Thank you for sharing this adventure! And little Silas is getting too big too fast.
I’d love to be entered, thank you! Love the pic of Bea reading 🙂
What beautiful photos, but my favorite is Beatrix reading. <3 She's such a cutie! Silas is getting so big! The book sounds fascinating to me. I'd give it a read. 🙂
I haven’t visited that park in years. So beautiful. I think I would have joined you for the overnight in the forest, I so out of shape. But then again I was never really in shape to begin with…’torture’…too funny. I guess I would endure it too for those views.
I’ve seen a lot of buzz about the book and would love to win a copy!
I would love a chance to win a copy! I just converted and was confirmed this Easter. Just now embracing the beginning of my Caholicness ;).
i love, love, love skyline drive! your photos take me back to my college days – hiking big meadows and the fall, too! (i graduated from Eastern Mennonite in Harrisonburg).
i am curious about this book (Style, Sex and Substance) – so count me in for the drawing! thank you for the gorgeous pictures – i was down in virginia (central) for the weekend and had lovely spring rains and sunshine. looks as though you all have wonderful adventures – makes us all jealous! God’s blessings upon you!
i am curious about this book – so count me in for the drawing! thank you for the gorgeous pictures – i was down in virginia (central) for the weekend and had lovely spring rains and sunshine. looks as though you all have wonderful adventures – makes us all jealous! God’s blessings upon you!
Beautiful photos, as usual! My favorites are Silas walking on the trail and Beatrix reading S, S & S. That one made me laugh!
Well I would give it a read for sure, its my birthday and luck might be on my side if you ship to Australia!
🙂
I’d love to win a copy of Style, Sex, and Substance, thanks! All the buzz around the internet has my curious.
Looks like a really interesting read. Any chance you’ll ship to Australia? If so I would love a chance to win! xo m.