Shenandoah NP

Yesterday we were blessed to spend the day sightseeing and hiking in Shenandoah NP.  The park was packed with visitors for the Labor Day weekend, and at first it was discouraging to see that the parking lots at all of the trailheads were overflowing!  However, for whatever reason, the parking at the Stoney Man Overlook was nearly empty, and the hike was wonderful toward Skyland.  Here are some of the pictures that Ken took along the hike.

The weather was interesting in that sometimes we were in a heavy rolling fog, and sometimes in bright sunlight.

A little ring-necked snake

We also saw a multitude of millipedes

(photo courtesy of the internet)

There was definitely a muster of the millipede multitudes going on!

small muster of mountaintop myers 

magnifying majestically

mona lisa model

Ok enough with the alliteration already!!!

After the hike we drove down to Big Meadows

(and along the way, most of us got to see a momma and baby bear, 

but no cameras were quick enough

 to capture the moment)

the fog added a dreamlike quality to the landscape.

thankfully, john is not low, just getting that perfect shot....

otherwise a typical family picture

another ring necked snake

Great Meadows was filled with wildflowers.

heading back, thankful for the chance to enjoy God's creation!

Cowboy brisket served in a variety of ways

This delish dish was featured in an article from Country Living which recommended serving it in 5 different ways:

1.  Tacos: top brisket with pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream

2.   Open face sandwiches: combine shredded cabbage, carrots and diced cucumber in ranch dressing, add to brisket in sandwich

3.   Baked sweet potatoes:  wilt spinach in garlic butter; split roasted sweet potatoes, fill with brisket
and spinach, dollop with sour cream, sprinkle with bacon and diced red onion.

4.   Pizza:  spread pizza dough with barbecue sauce, sprinkle with brisket, pepper jack cheese, red
onion, red bell peppers, bake, and just before serving, sprinkle with cilantro.

5.    Ravioli:  toss brisket with hot cooked cheese ravioli, fresh arugula, parsley and grape tomatoes,
sprinkle with grated parmesan.


We made the tacos and sweet potatoes.  Yummy!


This is an interesting way to do your main cooking once, and then have creative and varied leftovers the next few days.

Romulo Yanes

Yields: 15

Total Time: 8 hr 10 min

Prep Time: 15 min

Ingredients

U.S.

Metric

Conversion chart

• 2 tablespoon(s) cowboy rub, (such as McCormick Grill Mates)
• 1 tablespoon(s) dark brown sugar
• 2 teaspoon(s) smoked paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon(s) ground cumin
• 1 (6-pound) flat-cut brisket
• 1 large sweet onion, sliced
• 3 clove(s) garlic, minced
• 1 cup(s) chopped fresh cilantro

---

Directions

1. Stir together first 5 ingredients. Trim fat from brisket leaving a thin layer; cut into 3-inch chunks.
2. Rub brisket pieces evenly with spice mixture. Arrange meat on top of onions and garlic in a lightly greased 5- to 6-quart slow cooker.
3. Sprinkle with cilantro. Cover and cook on low 8 to 9 hours or until brisket pieces shred easily with a fork.
4. Serve brisket drizzled with small amount of cooking liquid, or cover and chill up to 4 days.

Gather a shell from the strewn beach

and listen at its lips: they sigh

the same desire and mystery,

the eco of the whole sea's speech.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, The Sea-Limits

Have you seen the amazing story on New Advent: here, about the boy receiving two presents from his parents.  It's a wonderful story, but then i realized that this is the attitude i should have toward God, our Father.  How often do i thank Him for, or even acknowledge, the little things in my life?  Have i ever shown Him the tremendous gratitude that this young man showed to his parents?

Perhaps this is what Our Lord had in mind when He said, "Unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

A wonderful guest

introducing john paul, our wonderful guest this past week

Site seeing 

Swimming

Feeding the birds

Taking a dip in the canal

Playing with the littles

Playing clash of the clans

Introducing us to

And all around good guy, we have been blessed to have you with us!

And pete is blessed to know you!

The Greniers

The Hillearys

Kateri at the beach

do you recognize the little munchkin's ponytail?

watching signing times...

it's clear

everyone is getting something different

out of it!

Walk to Mass this morning

One of the great things about this vacation is that there is daily Mass within walking distance (about 4 miles).  Would you like to join me on the walk?

Soon after leaving the house,  and thankfully for most of the route, there is a wonderful walking/biking trail.

Always on the outer banks there is water everywhere:

Part of the route goes along the kitty hawk maritime forest

And residential areas, too....always with pockets of ponds or marshes...

 Dont you like the rope fence?

Along the route there are several different wildflowers....i am hoping to figure out what they all are:

Blanket flower

And the ubiquitous coastal oak trees

Church of Our Redeemer by the Sea, for the feast of the Assumption,  lots of prayers for Libby and her beautiful family today!

Slimy (and/or) funny

Funny:

what would be a good caption for this picture?

Slimy:

Aren't these little critters amazing?  don't you love the little mustache?

Funny Marian garden

Patroness perhaps of those lost in the bushes?

Slimy--- Kenny spotted this living (?) nightmare on a hike:

Pinterest recipe fail from Jeanne:

Both slimy and funny!