Yesterday I went for a walk with a friend. It was blustery and cold, a perfect late autumn day. We were watching the light as it broke through the heavy cloud cover. At one point, we stopped to admire the sheep who had climbed up to the top of a rock, looking like the king of the hill. As I turned, I saw the sun act as a spotlight on a distant hill. It whoosh upwards and then disappeared. It then spotlighted a nearby section and blinked out rapidly. This happened for a third time as we stood there, mesmerized. We hugged one another and were laughing as chills raced up and down our bodies. What was that?? If it was the sun breaking through it was in such an unusual and pointed way that we both felt touched by the magic of it all.

The second bit of magic was finding a large bittersweet vine near the roadside. I remember it from my childhood and always loved its yellow orange flower that seemed the essence of autumn. I grew up eight hours from here in Western New York and could not understand why it was not found here in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Granted, we are further north but I felt it should be here. Then, there it was! I asked the vine for permission which was immediately granted, to harvest a few of the vines. We both took some home and immediately decorated our grapevine wreaths with it. So beautiful! It made my day. There is something so joyous about gathering materials in nature and creating with them. Next will be winter wreaths with the balsam firs and cedars that grow all about.

I am so grateful that we took this walk and allowed ourselves the gift of nature’s bounty and beauty.