With Thanksgiving behind us and the November days now coming to a close, I wanted to take this time to remember one last autumn walk from our trip to the mountains last month.
On the back side of Leavenworth is a small island filled with several nature trails and a small park. It's a wonderful place to take a nature walk.
Those who know me well, know that I love pictures of empty chairs and empty paths filled with curves. It reminds me that you never know who's going to enter your life or what you might find around the corner. It this case, the path opened up to the beautiful Wenatchee River. In the Spring when the snow is melting off the mountainsides the river is a favorite spot to go white water rafting but this time of the year the water just meanders quietly past the fall trees.
It was spawning season and as we waited patiently along the riverbank, from time to time we would suddenly hear the splashing sounds of a salmon as it made it way up the gentle current. The scene looked like a painting hanging in an art gallery somewhere.
Once you leave the river there is a lovely little park with benches where you can just sit and enjoy the day. If I lived in the area I would come here and spend a couple of hours as often as I could.
Imagine being able to just sit here and read a book or spend some time in quiet reflection.
Walking around the grass I started noticing clusters of pods in the trees and in pieces on the ground. I went over to take a closer look.
I picked up a pod and discovered that what I was holding was a chestnut! This particular species is called a horse chestnut. I don't think these are edible but I loved their smooth shiny skin and the rich brown color. I took a handful home to place in a dish.
There was something about this picture with the lamp post that made me think of The Chronicles of Narnia. Can't you just picture a snow scene with Mr. Tumnus coming around the corner to meet Lucy for the first time? Wouldn't that be a surprise!
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Now I am going to leave you with this one last picture taken at Deception Falls on our our way home. If we were standing there today it would be covered in a blanket of snow as it is only a few miles from Stevens Pass which just opened up for the ski season this week.
And so we say goodby to November and hello to winter which is just around the corner. There is even talk of a little snow here on Monday. We shall see.
This is not my picture. There are no pictures this morning except for the ones that are printed on my heart but I felt a need to share.
I couldn't sleep and so I got up early to watch the sunrise. On this November morning it was still warm enough for me to stand outside in my robe on the deck. I had forgotten how much patience it takes to watch the sun come up but as I leaned against the railing I was surrounded by the quiet of the morning and the beauty of the sky.
The lake, looked bright pink in the early morning twilight as it reflected the same colors painted across the clouds dotted above. Off in the distance was the sound of rushing cars on the mountain highway making their way down from the hillsides above to the cities below. A single bird began calling and another picked up the notes as they conversed back and forth. Soon there were many birds chirping and singing.
Slowly the surface of the water changed from pink to gold as the sky began to light up. The mountains changed from black to blue against the horizon and all around the dark outlines of trees and houses began to take on color and texture until finally they could be clearly seen. A soft breeze began to blow through the trees and the sounds of leaves drifting from the branches sounded like raindrops as they fell.
Still I waited and watched as a golden chain of lights began to sparkle behind the mountaintops. It looked like a golden city off in the distance. For a moment it felt like I was looking at heaven as tears filled my eyes. It was so beautiful.
As the early dawn turned into day I felt again that sense of gratitude that we have a mighty God watching over us. There will always be joy and suffering. It's our human condition but He is there and always will be. Blessing, honor, glory and power be unto God and to The Lamb forever.
Eucharisteo.
