Leaf Peeping New England Style!

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;

    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Psalm 96:11-12

In my opinion, there is just nothing that compares to Autumn in New England.  This particular year, the perfect recipe of cold  nights and warm days yielded a stunning display of bright reds, oranges and yellows.

My husband and I treated ourselves to an entire day away to enjoy God's creation in all it's beautiful splendor.  

We headed just two hours north of our home to Southern New Hampshire.  My husband had found a fall foliage tour map that took us on windy country roads through quaint New England Villages surrounding the base of Mt. Monadnock.  

One of our stops was in the beautiful village of Hancock where we stretched our legs and strolled along sidewalks to take in the beauty of the Historic homes.  

I daydreamed about the people who once walked these roads back in the 1800s; a sense of community and coziness filled my mind with peaceful thoughts.

Hancock Village

A rose blooming on a bush, 

life bursting forth, 

dying leaves blanketing the ground...

A stunning metaphor of the beauty of Christ's love for His children when He died on that tree at Calvary, and subsequently was raised in Glorious splendor to new life, so that we who believe, would be raised with Him from death to life eternal.

My husband and I stopped at this quintessential New England Meeting House in Historic Jaffrey with views of Mt. Monadnock.  

My husband gave me the idea of taking a picture of the church with the colorful maple leaves surrounding the steeple.

Mt. Monadnock in the distance

One of the longest church horse stalls I've seen!

The family's names still marked above each stall, matching the names on the gravestones out back.

There the members of the congregation are resting beneath the earth in the shadow of the Meeting House; a Meeting House where they had spent many Autumns worshipping God and no doubt, enjoying the beautiful fall colors, who now are basking in the radiance of Christ Jesus. 

Our most beautiful and fascinating stop was Cathedral of the Pines.   

"In the fall of 1937, Sibyl and Douglas Sloane III purchased the property in Rindge, NH that was later to become the Cathedral of the Pines. Settling on what was then 128 acres, they envisioned that their four children—Douglas, Sanderson (“Sandy”), Margaret, and John (“Jack”)—would one day build their own houses on the property." {excerpt from Cathedral in the Pines website}

Sloane Family Homestead

Their son Sandy had joined the Army and planned on building his home when he returned from oversees; a home that was to be built on the spot where Cathedral of the Pines now stands. Unfortunately, while oversees his plane was shot down and he was killed.  His family held a memorial service for Sandy on the land that was cleared out overlooking Mt. Monadnock which later became Cathedral of the Pines.  

In the years to follow, the Sloanes created Cathedral of the Pines and welcomed all faiths to worship there.

The altar made with stones from every State in America.

Majestic views of Mt. Monadnock in the background.

A humble graveyard in a meadow overlooking Mt. Monadnock.

I think this could be said of the Christian life...

Praising God for His Law; the Law written on our hearts...

I've always liked the sentiment behind this prayer...

My Pastor husband can never resist trying out a pulpit.

This was probably the most unique!

Inside this building, incorporated within the stones, you will find all sorts of memorabilia.  

From purple hearts to a piece of the Blarney Stone!

But the item that stopped me in my tracks was a five inch diameter rock that came from one of the ovens at Auschwitz.  I reflected long and hard upon the enormity of what I was looking at.

If you live near Southern New Hampshire, I highly recommend a visit to Cathedral of the Pines.   It is so interesting and absolutely beautiful!


Some closing pictures of our trip...

My husband and I came upon this beautiful view of Mt. Monadnock.   The road just opened up and there it was!  It took my breath away!

I hope you have enjoyed my Daybook of sorts chronicling my leaf peeping adventure.

I highly recommend Leaf Peeping New England Style!  :-)


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