I have always maintained that there is no place more beautiful in autumn than New England but that was before I had experienced the fall in Aspen. The combination of the Rocky Mountains, cobalt blue skies,  the shimmering golden aspen leaves and dusting of the first snow on the peaks creates a magic that is truly spiritual. I am so lucky because the season arrives earlier in the mountains so I revel in not one but two autumns.

The difference between the two regions is striking. Aspen is brilliant and sparkling. Even the air is bright and the sharp contrast of the electric yellow aspen leaves with the deep bottle green of the fir trees creates graphic patterns on the mountains. There is a vitality there that puts energy in my step. New England, on the other hand, is softer and more mellow;  the light is golden and shadows longer. When the sun hits leaves of red, orange, yellow and cognac it creates rich fire like a tapestry covering the gently rolling hills of Connecticut. Stone walls, red barns, clapboard houses, white spires of 18th and 19th century churches, and ancient cemeteries speak to the early history of our country. Here autumn is a bit nostalgic for me as I am much more aware of the passage of time. I love both places and the different feelings they engender. Autumn fills me with wonder at the beauty of Mother Nature and I thank my lucky stars that I have the privilege to spend such a beautiful season in two remarkable places