Gold above and gold below, touched by Midas’ fingers.
Leaves fluttering, stirring up magic that envelopes our path,
Leading us deeper into the maple woodland.
Crunching leaves create a symphony,
Music rising and falling with the beams of dancing sunlight.
We enjoyed the beauty of northern Wisconsin during the month of October, and took advantage of the many trails and lands to hike through the woods. The unusually long, green summer gave way to brilliant autumn colors, and the trees were proud to show them off. There were a fair amount of rainy days as well, and I learned that if I was prepared for it, they were just as enjoyable as the perfect weather walks.
Our Wisconsin home for October was with Paul’s sister and family. Just down the road from their house was the Gandy Dancer trail, a trail that runs through Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota. We enjoyed taking short evening walks down the trail when the kids needed to use some energy, or when Paul and I had an opportunity to enjoy holding hands for a peaceful jaunt. It was often drizzling out those first few weeks, and at first I would automatically decline an invitation for a hike due to the “weather”. After realizing that our life in England will have similar rainy days, I decided to use the opportunity to practice dressing for the weather. It’s ironic, how many from the midwest scoff at those whose lives stop due to an inch of snow? I realized the similarity when I used the rain to stop me from going outside. So, slipping into a raincoat and boots, bundled with mittens and hats, I enjoyed the darkened, wet leaves, the misty air around me, and watching the irresistible puddles draw childrens’ boots to splash.
Running through the carpet of leaves. 
Crossing the stepping stones.
To make sure that I didn’t always remember the rainy, grey days, Wisconsin decided to give it’s best weather on a weekend hike at the local state park. Three sister-in-laws, together with five little cousins, started down the trail through a predictably pretty-colored forest of a variety of trees. As the trees became thicker, so did the beauty. We watched the light stream through the branches to piles of leaves, and the trail led us down to the sparkling blue lake. A tiny waterfall made a little stream to cross, and we all laughed as the women helped the faltering children across the stepping stones, trying not to fall into the water with wriggly little bodies in our arms. Our conversation was easy as we watched the running children on their great adventures, and our lungs were filled with refreshment and warmth and memories that will last beyond the end of the trail.
The hike that inspired the poem was truly magical, a forest of golden maple trees that were in peak color, with the floor full of tiny maple saplings also turned to gold. I had gone to my niece’s piano lesson at her teacher’s house in the country, a long strip of land that had both the friendliest horse I’ve ever met, as well as a fairyland forest. I learned that maple leaves have special properties that help prevent weeds from growing, so there were no weeds covering the ground underneath the trees, besides a few ferns and the swaying grasses along the bog below the trail. After walking through with my sister-in-law and the kids, I was entranced, and asked if I could bring Paul back for a walk that evening. Some of the sun-glow was gone when we came later, but he was just as captivated as I was, and we enjoyed imagining that we had been placed in the scene of a storybook. The owners told us that they often tapped these sugar maples in the late winter for syrup, a delicious way to enjoy these trees and taste the reminder of gold.
Just taking the opportunity to write about our hikes shows me how much more I could have enjoyed if I had just put on my jacket and stepped outside more often. Often when I am in situations where I feel I may be uncomfortable, I am hesitant to even put forth the effort to try. This season of our family’s life has given plenty of opportunities to be uncomfortable, and we are learning to be more and more comfortable with that discomfort. Whether we are in perfect conditions or not, it’s still possible to enjoy our surroundings if we dress for the weather and step outside.
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