It's quite a sunshine-filled day here today which is a welcome relief after the dreary rainy weekend that just passed - and while it didn't rain all weekend - it rained for most of it.
Friday after work I popped into the nearby library's book sale and picked up two hardback books for the low low price of $4 and so I've added those to the stack of books I have to read! I perused Hobby Lobby and found some awesome sale items, had dinner at Olive Garden with my parents and even got in some time on the elliptical before curling up on my couch to watch JoJo Rabbit. I've been wanting to see it for a while and it popped up on HBO.
Saturday was just a rainy day all around and I didn't sleep nearly as late as I'd hoped I would... *sigh* but after coffee and quality time with the elliptical, it was out into the rain to run some errands. I discovered that a large Cherry Limeade at Sonic is only 1 WW point - so I was happy to have that with my lunch while running errands.
I passed the afternoon with a little reading, baking some Lemon Squash Bread and helping my Dad move a tree in the backyard. I also make some delicious Turkey Chili for dinner - perfect for a rainy evening and watched some more of the utter delight that is Phil Rosenthal on Somebody Feed Phil. I am anxiously awaiting the fourth season!
Sunday started overcast but by the time I'd been to church, had lunch and popped into Target for a bit, the skies were clearing up and with no rain in the forecast my parents and I headed into the Shenandoah National Park and made our way along the parkway to the Dark Hollow Falls Trail.
I've been wanting to go hiking (again) for the past few weekends and I was so glad that we finally had the chance. It seems like this whole pandemic/quarantine scenario has just made me more restless than usual and I tend to always want to get outside. While it did take about an hour and fifteen minutes to get to the trail head - the hike was so worth it and I'm just so glad we were able to go do it!
The trail isn't too long at all - just 1.4 miles round trip and going in is quite easy since it's downhill all the way! The stream flows alongside the trail all the way down and the landscape is just so beautiful; I think this might be my new favorite hike! After climbing down the trail and listening to the roar of the water get louder and louder... finally, the falls emerge to your right and what a sight they are!
Dark Hollow Falls is seventy feet high with a small pool at the base where the water collects before continuing further down and dropping again just a little farther on - my Dad and I continued down the way a bit to see some of the other falls and I noted the trail kept going. It would be interesting to see where the rest of the trail led but we started a little later than usual, so we headed back and arrived back to the car shortly after 5:00.
Since I'd never been to Big Meadows Lodge and it was already after 5:00, we decided to pop over there for a quick dinner before driving back down the mountain. I had Peanut Soup and it was absolutely to die for - so very good! The only place I've ever seen Peanut Soup was in Colonial Williamsburg and so I jumped at the chance to try another variation and this one did not disappoint! It was savory and delicious without being too rich, with bits of peanut sprinkled in for good measure!
The views from the dining room at Big Meadows Lodge were pretty spectacular and my Mom and I finished the meal with a scoop of Blackberry Ice Cream before we made the drive back down the mountain. Once we were home I showered and got ready for the work week ahead - another good weekend in the books for 2020!
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