I have no doubt that October comes everywhere and it is beautiful when it comes, but I am persuaded that when it comes in Vermont it simply explodes in full bloom splashing gold, orange, yellow, and red across the canvas of the Green Mountains. The gurgling streams serenade a response to the symphony cascading from the trees above as the sun shines down brightly from the cloudless azure skies.
During morning walks and hikes where the sunlight filters through the painted leaves, everything within me is drawn to praise the One who created all that surrounds me. Each season displays something unique and wondrous about Him, but in autumn it is such a glorious showy display. Over and over again Isaiah 55:12 resounds within me:
Isaiah 55:12 New International Version (NIV)
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
People come from everywhere for this grand display in the midst of small towns and villages scattered across the mountains of Vermont. Some gaze from the vantage point of the interstate highways that give panoramic views of mountains that look like paint pots of color. The view goes on mile after mile while your eyes eagerly race ahead to take in the vista at each turn to take and the veritable feast of beauty unfolds before your eyes.
But to get a more intimate view, you need to leave the interstate and search out the two 
lane roads like Vermont routes 100 and 108 that meander through the scene between walls of color made brighter by the sunlight filtering through them.
That will let you see the red barns tucked here and there in fields carved out of small lush valleys. It will let you catch sight of the beautiful tall white spires of churches dotting the landscape and it will also invite you to taste the season. As cider mills, maple syrup farms, and the wonderful Cabot white cheddar cheese stores offer their harvest for sample and sale along the country roads, you will not be able to resist a cup of hot apple cider along with a warm apple cider doughnut.
You’ll be reminded that maple syrup comes from these stunning sugar maple trees awash in their bright red leaves rather than from the bottle you pick up at your local grocery. Those who harvest the sap and boil it to create the syrup will acquaint you with the grades, colors, and uses of the sap made into such a delicious syrup. Each grade and type has a special purpose and no matter whether it is the first and best light colored liquid that goes for the highest price or the darkest amber of the last liquid drawn off and used for cooking, it is all good.
Walking along these colorful paths in Vermont will most of all take you back to the Creator because His creation declares His glory at every turn. Your heart and spirit are quieted in His presence as your feet walk along streams, follow footpaths down wooded trails, and climb the pathways to waterfalls.
Your heart is also awakened to praise that He too uses every thing, every season for His glory and our good.
No matter how dark the moment may seem, He is present in it with us and His light will lead us home.
Absolutely stunning! It would be a dream to visit Vermont in fall. I live in the Arizona desert, so fall looks quite a bit different here. 😉 My family took a day trip to Flagstaff to get our fall colors fix. We saw mostly aspens, though. Wish there would have been more red from those gorgeous maples!!
Arizona has its own beauty! We have been there on vacation once. I do like the Flagstaff area. Ohio doesn’t have as much red as VT either and we are very late to start any leaf color due to our “hottest ever on record summer”. It was actually still 79 degrees here today!! Last year at this time, we had light snow!
Pam, Thank you!! This post brought back so many wonderful memories.
Every year my husband and I try to make it up to Woodstock for the foliage, but this year we have too much going on and weren’t able to. (We did squeeze in a day trip yesterday to Southern New Hampshire and did a senic loop around Mt. Monadnock. The colors were spectacular! We visited some quaint villages and got our leaf peeping fix!
You are so right about route 100. It is absolutely beautiful for taking God creation in all its colorful splendor. My husband and I also once did a Cabot Cheese tour. lol. I think we went to every place that sold Cabot Cheese, where they would offer free samples. It was then that my husband coined the phrase, “If it’s free it’s for me!” lol.
It was such a treat to stop by! But then again it always is! Blessings,
You’re welcome, Karen! I am so glad you were blessed! There is nothing quite like it! I am sorry we did not have time to get over to NH as well. Your hubby is so right about Cabot cheese!! At my grocery store I can get a small package of Cabot that is double the price in VT! Blessings on your day, Karen! Always blessed to hear from you!!!
Beautiful pictures of a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing!
Vermont is breathtaking in the fall! We try to head that way this time of year every year because of the foliage. I love the verses you incorporated in this post as well. Thanks for sharing this beautiful post!
God bless,
Patty
Thanks, Patty! Blessings on you as well!!
Autumn is my absolute Favorite and oh my goodness, have you captured it here! Glorious!!!
Me too, Karrilee! It has always been my favorite season for so many reasons!!
Gorgeous pics. I have just returned from a trip in the New England state and it was just beautiful.
Thanks, Judy!!
Oh Pam, these photos are just STUNNING. I remember my family and I went to New England to view the colors, and we were too early. (insert frown-y face) What is more pure than God’s creation? I agree with Tamar, that church and leaves…wow.
I’m so happy that you had such a great time, and were so inspired. I think the Spirit was flowing through you for sure that day!
Happy Monday 🙂
Ceil
Thanks, Ceil! This is just our second trip to VT. We first went in the fall 8 years ago. We were a week earlier and managed to hit it then as well. Feel like the Lord truly favored us since we had no way of knowing when we made reservations months ago! Blessings right back at you, my friend!
Beautiful! We are missing the bright reds here (they haven’t been as glorious the last 3 years). You’ve officially added Vermont to my bucket-list;)
#InspireMeMonday
Julie
Thanks, Julie! Ohio has just started having color. We had such excessive heat this summer that experts have said the trees are stressed. Our dogwood in the backyard has just turned red and it is usually red by mid to late Sept.
Beautiful words- and pictures! The Lord so lavished His beauty on us in a special way in Vermont : )
I love that church and steeple amidst the changing leaves!