The beautiful Meadow Spring trail to Mary’s Rock
American Chestnut. Wiped from eastern forests by a blight that was introduced a century ago, still sending up shoots from it’s root system. The blight will kill these shoots before they reach a good size, but the root system, unaffected by the blight, will send up new shoots. Once a giant, American Chestnut has been reduced to a shrub. Those shoots though, they are a sign of perseverance and of hope. Researchers are working to breed a cross between the American and the Chinese chestnut: a tree that will have the disease resistance of the Chinese and the impressive growth habit of the American (I did laboratory research on American Chestnut in college, and I was really excited to see them growing all along this trail.)
My sister, keeping Beatrix away from the edge. This lookout made us both pretty nervous.
It was cold! Our first taste of cold in many months.
September means goldenrod on the meadow
We had a beautiful day, and I got to share my favorite place with my sister (Jonny’s brother was with us too, but this was his second visit to the meadow.) We ate our dinner standing in the parking lot in the dark, hands freezing, but talking about how glad we were that we’d come, how we’d never forget.
(I was so excited that we actually needed our sweaters! Knits in this post: Silas’ Cascade, My February Lady and Seashells Scarf, Larkspur’s Sunday Sweater, and Beatrix is wearing the first Sunday Sweater that I knit, my rough draft.)
lori says
beautiful magical, the day, the place and your knits. i love the photo of you and baby silas, so sweet.
Tara @ Bush Mama says
All of your hand knits are beautiful!
Your writing about the American Chestnut made me think of Barbara Kingsolver’s novel Prodigal Summer. Have you ever read it? One of the characters in the story is passionate about trying to come up with a blight-resistant cross. It’s one of my favourite books!
Susan @ Tea & Cake says
What a glorious outing! Your words and pictures were so wonderful that I feel like I was “there” with you : -)
Kristin says
Love the picture of Beatrix on the rock!
Tina says
I enjoyed this post, it showcases your work nicely. Your work is wonderful- the photography, the knitting, and the children!!
swanski says
Gorgeous photos! I love when it gets cold and the sweaters get pulled out to wear, and that mountain view is incredible! I would have been a wee bit nervous.
Sharron says
This is so beautiful. Between you and Soule Mama, I sometimes hate living in the midwest! 🙂
Christina says
Lived outside D.C. for a long time. Boy do I sure miss Shenandoah! Thank you so much for the beautiful pics, and the memories they brought back to me. How wonderful it is to see this again. Loved Goldenrod, but it did not love me: hay-fever! Did Beatrix get a hair cut…sooo cute! Thank you so much for sharing with us, it warms my heart.
steph says
beautiful!!! the scenery—–and all the handknits!!!
Emmalina says
How lovely that you were able to share this day with your sister, mine lives on another continent and I miss her all the time. I loved seeing the pictures of the children running free, beautiful : )
Liz says
It’s funny, the first thing my eyes went to in the photos were the handknits! It’s fun recognizing them from previous posts/Yarn Alongs. You’re so fortunate to havesuch a lovely place to visit! I’d like to find a place I can let the kids roam around here.
Also, I too have a little blond haired baby boy so my eyes seem to always find Silas. He truly is an incredibly adorable child… and my goodness he’s getting big! His face is looking less like a baby and more like a little boy. And he’s getting so much hair!
As always, thank you for sharing these moments with your lovely family. I find it very inspiring as I try to find rhythm in my own little family. (I’m a single mom of a seven month old.)
Jennifer @ Little Blog in the Big Woods says
You are so blessed to live in/near such a beautiful area. It is (one) my fondest dream to live in or very near the mountains someday….till then, here I sit in the flat cornfields of Indiana. There is much beauty to be found here also….one must just look a bit harder!
heathermama hawkes says
that picture with your wee little man being just a head… precious. 🙂 what a lovely adventure.
so did you study trees in college? you are so full of tree knowledge.
Genevieve says
Absolutely beautiful photo’s & so much hand knit goodness!
beth lehman says
oh, i just love that you visit big meadows. i went to college in harrisonburg and then lived there for another 8 years and made so many trips to skyline drive. i’ve never hiked mary’s rock, but am hoping i can this fall when my sister and i meet up near sperryville!
Sue says
so lovely to see all those hand knits, you really do live in a wonderful part of the world
amy says
Such beautiful photographs of beautiful children, hand knits & landscape. That shot of Bea sitting on the rock in the meadow is so lovely.
MackenzieH says
Such pretty photos! You were kind of in my neck of the woods…we are in Ft. Valley. 🙂 This weather has be *beautiful*, hasn’t it? And your sweaters are all so pretty…isn’t it just the loveliest thing to see your little ones in your knitting?
Erin says
Where is this? I think I see a weekend trip in my family’s future.
Ginny says
Shenandoah National Park. Specifically, the Meadow Spring trail (linked to that above) and Big Meadows: http://www.visitshenandoah.com/
Miu says
The landscape is so incredibly beautiful!
Kim says
Beautiful!
Heather says
*sigh* I do so miss your corner of the world, but I am so happy we got to experience it for a bit.
Cari says
What stunning photos!!! Don’t you just love the first chilly day!!!