Heaven on earth

Before the scenery is blanketed in snow and the chill in the air is too much to bear, we broke away from the chains of monotony and headed to view nature’s spectacular paintings.

Granted that front row seats were extraordinarily rustic and evidently few, but that’s no matter, nature is the perfect hostess, welcoming and bursting to give those who’ve come to seek her effervescent beauty the most eye-catching colours.

Even the little one stopped in her tracks, distracted from her usual trickery, just to wonder in amazement at the scattered leaves. Occasionally, she’d marched through the fallen and curled, just to hear the en masse conspiratorial rustlings.

Others were more enticed by the frigidly cold waters that pooled at the bottom of the modest falls, gingerly dipping their toes to feel the slippery and hard iridescent slate beneath their footing.

We followed the path where the waters hurried past, leaving carved history in its trail, and found ourselves humbled and in awe of nature’s grandeur that have spanned for hundreds of years in total oblivion to our blinkered race towards technical advancement.

The magical hues of auburn and gold were sometimes overpowering. But the quiet woods, tightly huddled, offered comfort -- in unity and with widespread arms -- to my strained heart about to burst from the wondrous vision. They have heard the muted wishes of those who have traveled down the same moss-covered and muddy veins; maybe they might hear mine too.

“Look up,” they seemed to whisper in rushed excitement, and when I did, I was stunned by the brilliant golden leaves, like fiery bright stars against the radiant blue. My wish was granted; I pointed my camera to the heavens and began to shoot madly, marveling at the esoteric beauty but knowing in my heart that simply, Mother Nature was all encompassing and widely enjoyed.

And although eating during a performance is considered a huge faux pas, we carefully munched on our sandwiches and continued to enjoy the enveloping charm. The trees didn’t seem to mind as they swayed in the breeze allowing our exposed skins to tingle from the crisp air, but we were respectful and left nothing behind.

For generations after us will continue to come and enjoy this same refuge.