I’m sure many of you heard that we had a very scary weekend in Cville. It was quite surreal to have all of this happen in a city I love, and everyone was on edge all weekend. Many of us were worried about further violence, and following the urging of our mayor, stayed away from downtown so that first responders and law enforcement could best do their job to protect our city.
The weekend started out, for so many of us, with the normal parts of peaceful life here that make up the beautiful city you didn’t get to see on the news. Friday night, T and I went to Duners in Ivy and had a wonderful dinner.
Duck egg rolls:
The most amazing halibut! I can’t even tell you how delicious this lemon and herb vinaigrette was.
And peanut butter torte for dessert. Plus some bread, a side salad that came with my entree, and wine. I left way too full!
Saturday’s breakfast was Kodiak pancakes and fresh peach with an almond butter drizzle before we headed out of town to the mountains in the countryside.
We hiked and took in the beauty and peace at Crabtree Falls, a popular place to be on such a gorgeous summer day.
#operationbeautiful!
The falls kept going and going.
We stumbled upon a rock city!
At the top, we enjoyed Bellair sandwiches, rosemary chips, and the most delicious ginger cookie ever.
We had no cell service during our hike, so as we emerged, I received a flurry of texts and messages about what was going on downtown, including the horrible images of a car driving into a crowd of protesters.
There were a lot of folks from out of town here, and I was extra jumpy in my house since we live close to downtown. Mazen’s bath toys chose Saturday afternoon to come crashing down while we were in the basement watching the news, and my heart jumped when I heard the sound.
Saturday evening we had a birthday party scheduled for my friend Erin at Veritas Vineyards. When we congregated, everyone had a lot of heartache to share about the day.
I have never seen Veritas so crowded, and the lines for wine were literally 45 minutes long.
Lynsie made this epic cupcake cake!
I had a bunch of apps for dinner
And a coconut cupcake from Pearl’s Bake Shoppe for dessert!
The skies threatened storms all night, but the band was able to finish a great show in style. This night was just what so many of us needed, and a reminder that, even in the face of heartache and grief, we have so much good in our community to be grateful for.
My heart goes out to the victims and their families as well as the troopers who lost their lives protecting us. Thank you all for your texts, Instagram messages, and emails to check on our family this weekend. Should you wish, you can join in here giving to the victims of the attack.
Claire says
Very scary times for you. I hope it gets sorted soon. Love the first photo, it looks beautiful there. Sandwich looks epic too!
Linda @ the Fitty says
I’m praying for you too Kath!
Carrie this fit chick says
Glad you are all okay. Was scary to see everything going on. Looks like a lovely weekend!
Erin Hack says
I know I don’t know you personally but I kept thinking about you all weekend and was hoping that you, your family, and friends were all safe. It is all so horrible and everyone is thinking of Charlottesville.
Denise Vermillion says
Same here Erin. All I could think was Cville! That’s where Kath lives! So glad to hear you are okay Kath.
Kelly says
Ditto! As a very longtime reader, I kept thinking “I wonder how Kath and her family are doing!” Glad for the update.
Vicki says
I was thinking of you and the residents of Cville. Thanks for sharing a positive yet thoughtful post. If we stop seeing the beauty we let them win x
Tonya says
So terrible. I visited Cville last year around about this time and it was crazy being able to recognize the area where all of that madness was going on.
CaitlinHTP says
Operation Beautiful 🙂 🙂
KathEats says
I meant to text you that pic but didn’t have service when I took it! <3
Sara says
Sounds like you had a great weekend! Hiking can be a balm in so many ways.
As a mom in today’s world, can I ask what are you doing to educate Mazen about social justice issues? I am raising two boys and I try to find ways to remind them of their good fortune and privilege and what their role is in ending systemic injustice. Both their gender and their race (and SEO) means they have access to resources to an unfair level. One great book we use is http://www.npr.org/books/titles/534898453/a-is-for-activist and another is this one http://www.npr.org/books/titles/535362915/stepping-stones-a-refugee-familys-journey
Just wanted to put them out there for you and your readers as we all make daily decisions on how we are going to support others and be active in the fight for racial justice.
Sara says
I meant SES! Not SEO. That’s what I get for multitasking at work.
Sorry!
KathEats says
Book are a great way to share messages with little ones. Thanks for the links.
Chelsea says
First, I’m so glad you’re okay. I’m sure this was an incredibly hard post to write and you did a really great job. Sending love!
Jenny says
Katy, obviously being in Cville gave you a different experience than other bloggers, but can I just say, thank you for devoting so much time and space to this? Woke up this am and running through my feedly page, I was blown away by the lack of comments. Reminds me of when you said something about the women’s march and it was so appreciated. Thank you for being authentic and unafraid to talk about things that matter.
Julie says
I’m just sick over the events in Charlottesville this weekend. It looks like you were able to make the best of a bad situation. So glad you were able to get some wine and relax.
Cyn says
I’ve been a reader for so many years I feel like I know Charlottesville, even though I’ve never visited. You’ve portrayed it so lovingly I can’t help but feel an attachment. You were in my thoughts over the weekend and I was happy to see your positive post today. We are all keeping your city in our prayers. Take care!
Aida says
Thank you for showing a different side of your city. I can’t imagine what everyone is feeling living there right now with so much media. Praying for your city and to show how goodness always wins over evil.
The hike looked beautiful…I can’t wait for cooler days, I live in Texas so being outdoors during the day is too hot right now!
Katie says
It is absolutely sick what happened over the weekend and I can only imagine how scary it must’ve been to be so close to it all. I am glad you are all safe though. On a happier note, your hike looked absolutely stunning!
F says
Glad you all stayed safe! As someone who advocates against traffic violence, I have to point out it was ‘a person driving into a crowd’- not a car. Using this language places the responsibility on the person, rather than the object.
KathEats says
Yes you are right. It was no accident.
F says
Thanks for taking note of this! Since you mentioned it, I thought I may also share-accident is not a word we use in the traffic safety field, as most crashes are preventable. If you want to learn more on this movement, check out http://www.crashnotaccident.com/
Lou says
Kath, your nature photos are really lovely and I imagine that hike must have been a perfect respite.
I know you already feel this way, but I honestly feel like it’s critical for all of us to identify and denounce the white supremacists, neo-nazis, and KKK members who wreaked havoc on Charlottesville.
I am sure it’s probably really hard to figure out how to balance race and political issues with a healthy lifestyle blog – but if there was ever a time to do so, this would be it.
thank you for listening.
tracy says
I tend to agree with Lou. This happened in your own backyard and you can’t take a moment to denounce these groups by name -the awful, awful people who came to your city that you love, where you have chosen to make your family’s home, with the sole intent of causing chaos, and ultimately being responsible for the deaths of 3 people and injuring countless others? It’s your blog, you can do what you want with it, but I also think you missed the mark here to stand up for the city you proclaim to love. Might I suggest you listen to the Pod Save America podcast today – they had a lot of interesting thoughts on why what happened this weekend in your city is simply unacceptable.
KathEats says
I didn’t know writing the sentence “I denounce the KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists” was so necessary to prove that I am against that kind of hatred. Obviously I think they are all racist groups with awful ideology. This blog is not political, and I didn’t feel the need to go into a long rant about the groups, but the above is my statement about them if you are curious.
Lou says
I think part of the problem is that all too frequently good white people don’t think we have to name and acknowledge white supremacy as it exists around us all the time. You don’t have to use those particular words, but a stronger statement about countering racism and bigotry is important. Otherwise those people who move among you (and they exist!) who harbor those feelings or act upon them in less overt ways such as quietly discriminating in the workplace, or calling the police on black people they don’t recognize as “belonging in our neighborhood” take your silence as tacit agreement.
Your blog is not political but you acknowledged the situation enough in vague terms about your unease, that a simple statement about recognizing injustice or the value of nonwhite lives would go a long way.
Rachel B. says
Thought about you this weekend, Kath. Glad you stayed safe. Crabtree Falls is beautiful!
We live in an apartment downtown, and with my husband working at the hospital for most of the weekend I can relate to the “jumpy” feelings of being at home. I got some photos from around town during my morning walk today and shared them on my blog, if anyone is interested: https://rachandnateblog.com/2017/08/14/this-weekend-in-charlottesville/
KathEats says
You captured some beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing.
Rachel B. says
Appreciate the chance to share. Thank you <3
Brandy says
Since you have this amazing platform and live so close, I was hoping to see you take more of a stand and denounce the hate that filled the weekend. Everyone’s heart goes out to the victims, but we must also all take a stand and let it be known that racism and bigotry are not acceptable. Sure,not all of your readers may like that, but even more would love you for it. Do what’s right, not what’s safe.
dianna says
I agree with you, Brandy. Thank you for expressing this so eloquently.
elle says
Kath, please don’t think that all of your readers want this. You owe us nothing, any more than we owe you proof that we also denounce the KKK. But just in case you need it, I also denounce the KKK, white supremacy and Nazis. And North Korea. And child labor. And drugs.
Eleanor G says
Elle, I think that is the point — we DO need it. We NEED to say it, to name the hatred and bigotry and racism. I think that what Lou and Brandy and others are trying to say is that by NOT naming them, we risk giving legitimacy to these people as just one of “many sides.” This is not a political blog – truth. But this is not about politics, about different “sides” of a debate. This is about humanity and personhood and equality.
Amanda says
Hi Kath. I’m so glad you are ok! Charlottesville is a great city. Because of your blog, my husband and I visited a few years ago and had a great time. Thank you also for acknowledging the first responders. My husband is a police officer and all too often it is overlooked the work they do to protect. Take care!
Kelly Mach @ littlepieceofom.com says
I’m so glad you’re ok Kath. I was definitely thinking about you and your family this weekend and feel like I know so much about Charlottesville from your blog. Thank you for sharing such a genuine reaction to these awful events and for continuing to be a positive light amidst this hatred and division. I continue to be hopeful that love and good will overcome this nonsensical evil, but it definitely requires that all of us are aware and engaged in our communities. My heart goes out to those that were harmed on Saturday and their families.
Sarah says
I thought about you this weekend, glad to hear you are all ok. It has been very hard to digest; I cannot imagine if it happened so close to home.
On a much lesser note, I am also saddened by the level of vandalism on your hike. #operationvandalism The rock stacking is also considered vandalism. Nature should look natural; feel free to knock them down!
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
Glad you are okay, so sorry you and everyone in that area had to go through that! We were in Seattle over the weekend when they decided to have another protest there, the best part was seeing the people protesting the protestors, it was crazy and scary. I can only imagine what it was like being where you were, I’m glad you were able to make the best of the weekend!
alan says
I admire your mayor for withstanding a most stressful weekend, and also admire your willingness to talk about it. Did you know it was coming?
I am a northerner who is surprised constantly at the Confederate memorials and Robert E. Lee statues/highways/etc that are through the south. What is your thought about that? Is it a big point of contention?
KathEats says
We knew it was being planned and thus we were warned to stay away from downtown and not to engage.
Chelsea says
I would once again like to point out the fact that no matter what you say or do, people nitpick over the most ridiculous things! You share your lives with people who only know you via the internet, and yet people come out of the woodwork to tell you how you “should have” said something or do something, whether it’s related to politics or nature. Though sometimes I enjoy reading comments, other times I just want to boop people on the nose. Keep doing you, Kath. Your hike looked lovely, the sandwich looks awesome, and I appreciate the fact that you mentioned the scary happenings in your beloved town.
KathEats says
Thank you <3
Irene says
I was with you until you thanked the commenter who wants to “boop people on the nose” whatever it means… we all have opinions, we do not have to agree, I don’t have an expectation of you to take a political stand in your posts at all, but please don’t encourage bopping….
Amy says
Kath, thank you for talking about this. I wonder if the shift in topics (violence –> 80s cover band and unicorn cupcakes) impacted the tone of the post in ways you probably did not intend.
KathEats says
I thought about not posting, I thought about lying, I thought about other options but I decided just to tell the truth. Just because we went to a band doesnt mean we weren’t upset. There were 2,000 other Cvillians there, and it was nice to feel the community on a day when our town felt invaded.
Amy says
I’m not saying it did. I was mentioning how it reads this reader’s opinion. I am your audience after all, and I’m glad you wrote about it, like I said. Please re-read my comment, I said I knew it did match your intent. I hope your defensiveness doesn’t lead you to see any non-glowing comment as an attack :(. What a sad way to go through life.
KathEats says
I’m sorry, my comment was directed more to the people that commented on the unicorns with a “you suck” after it, some that you didn’t see. More of a general message to the group.
Tonya says
Kath–surely you know you can’t win. SOME of these comments are clever trolls. You’ve been chided for everything from what you need to tell YOUR child about this situation, to your duty to knock over stacked rocks in the woods, to how to perfectly word your sentences so as not to shift blame from the murderer behind the wheel of the car to the actual car. Girl–I picture you laughing at these comments at this point.
Silvia says
Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos of the country surrounding Charlottesville. We were there this past summer, visited Monticello while there. Beautiful indeed. It is horrifying and sad at the same time to think of hate groups congregating there- but this could had happened anywhere-and because of this we need to stay attentive, educate ourselves, vote, write our reps in DC and educate our children about issues that matter to us and remind them of how diverse the real world is! Those hate groups are not what America is. I am so glad and I believe that there is a lot of good left in this world.
Judy says
Kath,Thanks for this post.
Kylie says
I thought you did a great job on this post. It would’ve been a hard one to write. Love to you and your family<3