First Snow At Eternal Flame Falls | Cozy Bedtime Story

Step into a dreamy landscape with tonight's cozy story for sleep.

You are listening to First Snow at Eternal Flame Falls.

Explore an enchanting trail where the first snow delicately blankets the landscape.

A waterfall cascades with an eternal flame glowing in its grotto.

When autumn gracefully yields to winter's arrival,

Natural gas feeds the eternal flame.

First ignited by Native Americans thousands of years ago,

Flurries fall around you as you connect with the mystical energy of the dancing flame behind the misty cascade,

Where your dreams and hopes come to life.

The night brings you to an historic carriage house where you cuddle by the fire,

Reflecting on the wonders of nature before you fall asleep.

It's time to dream away.

Welcome to Michelle's Sanctuary.

I am Michelle,

Your muse and guide on this imaginative journey.

Think of my voice as that of a cherished friend and ally,

Leading your thoughts to soothing realms.

You hold the reins in crafting your inner world,

Where the rules are of your making.

Wiggle and get as comfy as you can.

In the safety of your bed and the sanctuary of your room,

Bliss is near as you appreciate the chance to focus all your energy on feeling good before drifting across the bridge to sleep.

Feel free to change any detail you like.

I am simply giving a framework to inspire your creativity.

You may surrender to sleep at any point.

As you find stillness in this cozy moment,

Envision crisp woodsy air flowing through your room.

As you inhale,

The aromatic,

Pristine air warms in your nose before filling your lungs.

This breath introduces you to the quiet soul of the woods,

A place that radiates peace.

Inhale with a sigh,

Letting go of anything that might disrupt your peace,

Visualizing all concerns dissolving in a waterfall's mist.

Consciously breathe in,

Feeling your body expand and claim the space for yourself.

Each breath infuses the serenity of nature into your being.

Feel free to welcome a yawn at the top of your breath,

Exhaling with a final sigh,

Feeling the lightness that accompanies this release.

Visualize how a few breaths can transform your inner world,

Preparing you for the unfolding tale in this relaxed state.

Now inhale deeply once more.

This time,

Allow winter's first snowflakes to bring a feeling of purity and freshness.

Under their magical display,

Each lacy white crystal implores you to welcome tranquility.

Exhale in a sigh,

Release any tension or lingering thoughts,

Letting them melt away like snow under the warming touch of the eternal flame in the grotto.

Feel the comforting glow radiate through you,

Leaving behind a sense of renewal and warmth.

Return your breath to a natural rhythm,

Recognizing the sense of comfort that lingers.

As we embark on a healing visit to Eternal Flame Falls,

The transition from autumn to winter creates a special,

Indescribable feeling.

As you explore the trails of Chestnut Ridge Park,

There's a sense of anticipation as the crisp air gives way to damp coolness.

Slightly metallic,

Aromatic notes hint at snow,

Marrying the lingering autumnal perfume of sweet decay.

Your breath is like a bridge between seasons,

As each exhale condenses in a dreamy cloud.

But deep into the park,

You encounter a deer lapping water from a babbling stream.

Heavy rainfall throughout the fall brings promise that the waterfalls will be at their fullest.

It's not uncommon for them to disappear in drier months.

The animals of the woods,

Like you,

Can sense the arrival of snow.

It permeates the air with a quiet stillness,

As if everyone is hanging onto the last words of fall,

Awaiting the preview of what's to come.

You walk on the trail,

A fading tapestry of autumn unfolding beneath your every step.

The leaves,

Once in blazing hues of red,

Orange,

And gold,

Have aged into muted earth tones of copper,

Tawny brown,

And yellow topaz.

You dress comfortably in many layers that keep you warm while making it easy to navigate the more treacherous paths.

You focus on each step,

Maintaining your balance as you walk over large pieces of shale,

Surrounded by moss,

And a perimeter of raspberry-red mushrooms and wet leaves.

The barren trees give a clear vista,

So you may more easily anticipate the winding path,

Often obscured by the lush foliage of other seasons.

The trail snakes through a cathedral of trees,

Their branches forming a natural archway that gives way to bleak skies.

The twisting,

Leafless branches showcase birds' nests,

Now vulnerable and no longer concealed by leaves,

But many of their residents have long ago left for warmer climates.

In the depths of winter,

The sloping terrain of limestone rock,

Glacial sand,

And shale attracts skiers and snowboarders.

To remote parts of the woods,

A drainage system of creeks continues to carve the land,

And you follow Shale Creek to the falls.

As you traverse this leaf-strewn path,

You feel grounded by the beauty and connection with every sensory experience.

Wisps of white gracefully continue a procession in the sky,

Signaling the arrival of snow.

The distant murmurs of a waterfall grow louder,

Letting you know you are heading in the right direction.

It is easier to trust yourself here,

The lack of distractions,

And the pureness of the experience enhance your intuition.

The comforting reminders of changing seasons never grow old or seem to fade.

The living gallery of autumnal hues brings a deep sense of awe in some,

But for those who prefer other seasons,

There is a reassuring promise,

That each one will pass in time.

The air is charged with anticipation,

And this palpable energy leads you to the Eternal Flame Falls.

A part of you wonders what it must have been like thousands of years prior,

Long before science could explain the phenomenon of the falls.

It must have been a spiritual voyage,

A magical display,

Where earth,

Wind,

Water,

And fire showcase their powers.

Even with an explanation,

The idea that all these elements have aligned to create the Eternal Flame is enough to make you wonder,

What other gifts does nature have in store?

The trail gets more narrow and steep in its descent,

And you balance as your hands grip the smooth bark of trees along the way.

A transfer of energy between these trees and your palms grounds you,

And no matter how silly it may seem to a critical mind,

You can feel the energy of the forest.

You feel the vibrations of the earth.

The closer you get to the falls,

The nippy air smarts your nose,

And when you focus,

You can see miniature droplets of water in the air,

Smaller than the tip of a fine sewing needle.

Thoughts dance through your mind,

Becoming fewer and far between as you become calmer and entranced by nature.

You find yourself contemplating the fleeting beauty of autumn,

A season in transition,

Mirroring the ever-changing nature of life.

Connected with the present moment,

You eagerly look forward to each unexpected encounter to come,

Knowing that you are a guest in a sacred place.

The newness of this experience creates new pathways in your brain,

Taking you out of the ruts of repetitive thinking.

As you continue down the trail,

A flurry of activity catches your eye.

A black squirrel,

Sleek and nimble,

Barrels up a nearby barren tree,

Its fluffy tail a whirlwind of motion.

It hops along the skeletal branches,

Its belly big in preparation for winter.

Other woodland creatures make brief appearances,

A flash of feathers as a bird takes flight,

The rustle of unseen critters in the underbrush.

Inspired to turn over a rock along the way,

You discover a spotted salamander,

The blue-black creature with banana-yellow spots,

Will soon be hard to find as it becomes dormant in the winter months.

You revel in this chance to experience nature,

Long after the human crowds have disappeared and the animals are free to come out of their habitats uninterrupted.

As you arrive at a summit,

You encounter a sleeping bat,

Smaller than a deck of cards.

Its dark brown velvety body blends into the tree,

Looking more like a cocoon than a living being.

The scent of damp earth mingles with the cool breeze,

And the trail inspires a childlike curiosity,

Transforming a walk that could be mundane to some.

But to you,

Becomes a spiritual experience.

You explore the rich palette of sensations,

In this mystical labyrinth,

Taking in the rich smells,

And viewing the shades of grey and white overhead that contrast the false shades of the earth's carpet.

You encounter a sodden area of the woods,

Full of puddles and wet mud,

And examine a natural bridge formed by a fallen tree,

Testing it first with your hands before crossing.

A playful moment ensues as you hop across the frayed bark,

Determining it to be safe.

You enjoy a spontaneous and unexpected laugh as you make it to the other side.

As you approach the falls,

You encounter the mist of the thirty-foot cascade of water.

The water flows down two tiers of shale.

The top half is narrow,

Pouring downward eight feet before the cascade doubles in width.

The earth is too warm for the water to freeze,

But come a month's time,

The harshness of winter will create an ice crystal display should the water remain.

Only a rainy year could allow for the waterfall to carry on into year's end,

As often the cascading water only appears in spring and early summer.

A web of exposed tree roots grips the earth,

Twisting down the jagged terrain.

Leaves scatter across the shiny shale,

Resembling yellow and orange polka dots.

The colors stand out against the bleakness of the sky and the lustrous black rocks.

The sulfurous smell of natural gas infuses with the mineral notes of the pristine mist,

The minty freshness of evergreens,

And the fresh scent of impending snow.

You descend a wide slab of shale and stand close to the waterfall.

It takes some time before the fire reveals itself,

Surprising you to encounter the orange gold flame dancing behind the silvery water,

Fueled by the seeping gas in the hollowed out chamber.

It burns brightly with resilience.

The winds pick up,

Yet the flame remains protected behind the cascade of misty water,

Barely changing its motion in the shimmering cave.

Witnessing the flames burn gives a sense of safety,

As you imagine being tucked within the cavernous dwelling,

Sitting warmed by the fire.

It offers a glimpse into lives long ago,

Seeking shelter in caves and making homes out of available resources.

From certain angles,

The light creates prismatic displays in the constant flowing water.

As it trickles down the moss-covered rocks,

You feel the mist on your face,

And soon realize the mist is joined by melting snowflakes.

For a moment,

You imagine Mother Nature waving a slender wand like a conductor,

Orchestrating the first snowfall of the season.

Snow clouds,

In a pregnant transition into winter,

Release their flurries upon the scene.

Slowly they fall,

Big and lace-like,

Landing on your shoulders,

In extended open palms.

They dissolve in the waterfall,

Lasting but a moment more on the shell before melting,

And you get lost in a contemplative splendor as your attention travels from the descending snow crystals to the mist,

The waterfall,

And the persistent flame.

You navigate your way closer to the fire,

Balancing on the rocks,

To bend down and watch the flame.

There may be hundreds of eternal flames around the world,

Many of them human-made creations,

Used as a place for worship or reflection.

But despite some explanations,

Aspects of this eternal flame remain a mystery to scientists.

The rocks are slightly warm,

But not nearly as hot as scientists would expect,

And even to the most brilliant minds,

It's hard to explain in full detail how this flame is constantly fed.

From a distance,

The flame appears more like the ignited wick of an antique glass lantern nestled behind the cascade,

But upon getting closer,

The flame reveals itself to be grander,

More mesmerizing and inspiring.

The snow falls gently around you,

And you feel as if you are in a magical snow globe,

Perhaps even in a dream.

Out of time,

Nothing before or after matters.

You simply revel in the delight of this magical setting,

Watching the flickering flames and misty cascade,

And a part of you understands that the future flames you will encounter will always bring you back to this mystical moment in nature.

You feel empowered to make a wish,

Casting it on the eternal flame,

Hoping this dream is as perpetually nourished through time.

The air becomes cooler,

The snow continues to steadily fall,

Leaving a scant trace on the branches and dissolving into the earth.

Unaware of the time,

You elect to hike back up the trail.

Before darkness cloaks the woods,

The rocks are slippery as you ascend,

Yet somehow easier to navigate than when you were coming down.

As so often is the case,

The return is quicker,

Perhaps devoid of the anticipation you felt when searching for the falls.

The trees now seem familiar,

Guiding you along the creek.

The animals are now tucked in their warm dens,

Nests,

And hollows.

You return to the park's entrance and find your car.

Once inside,

The heat fills the vehicle quickly,

And the wipers cast away the large flurries.

As you return to the historic carriage house,

You drive the weaving highway below the canopy of cedar and pine trees,

Coated in snow.

A fairytale setting,

The drive reminds you of holiday tales and stories of red riding hood.

On the fray of the village is a 19th century carriage house,

Perched atop a stream,

Where horses would once sip on the cool water.

You come upon the stone gate around the property,

And enter the amber-lit driveway that snakes around emerald knolls,

Dappled with leaves and pine cones.

The snow begins to stick in uneven patches on the grass and gate.

Darkness takes hold,

And you understand the sun must have set,

Even though it disappeared hours ago,

Behind the snow clouds.

White twinkling lights drape around the entrance to the carriage house,

And the blue spruce trees in the front yard.

You park the car and step out,

This time feeling the magic of winter in the air,

Sensing the temperature has dropped significantly since leaving the park.

The carriage house was remodeled into an elegant home decades back,

Preserving the details of the past,

While updating it with modern amenities.

You follow the stone path to the entrance,

Where you are met by the caretaker of the property.

Her name is Alice,

And she offers help in removing your coat and scarf,

Before hanging them onto the coat hook in the grand foyer.

The ceilings in each room have unique designs,

Particularly in the main living area,

Where stables once housed horses.

Other rooms on the first floor served as storage for carriages and buggies,

But now boast a farmhouse-style kitchen,

And Alice's suite.

Alice offers to bring a bite to eat,

And a hot beverage,

As you settle on a tufted emerald sofa by a roaring fire in the stone fireplace.

Floor-to-ceiling,

Multi-paned windows line the opposing wall.

Each small pane framed by black metal.

Snow blows against the glass with soft taps as the glass fogs up.

The fire crackles and pops as sparks shoot up the shaft.

You lean into the soft,

Satin throw pillows.

It feels like home,

A special place that you have visited before,

And come back to at will,

If only on the trails of dreams.

Reclaimed wood sconces hang on the stone wall,

Where flickering candles cast a warm glow on the rich jewel tones of the room.

The carriage house is rustic and elegant,

At the same time.

Ebony silk wallpaper,

With a floral texture,

Adorns the top half of the wall,

Opposite the fire.

The textured paper brings a luxurious backdrop,

Above ivory wainscoting,

That rises halfway up the wall,

From the herringbone walnut floor.

Alice enters with a silver tray,

With an array of warm,

Savory treats,

And your favorite hot drink.

The silverware clinks softly,

As Alice arranges the delights on an old trunk,

Transformed into a coffee table.

You thank her,

And she smiles softly.

Her long,

Silver hair is as thick as a horse's tail,

Tucked behind her ears,

And gathered in a thick braid that runs down her back.

Her eyes are warm and kind,

Radiating the energy of a beloved grandmother or fairy godmother.

You savor each carefully made indulgence,

Luxuriating in the timeless comfort of this transformed space.

As you enjoy the delectable treats,

You gaze into the flames,

Their warmth a reflection of the eternal flame that once captivated you behind the waterfall.

The memories of that enchanting sight mingle with the coziness of the room,

Creating a sense of connection between the past and the present.

You catch a glimpse of a sepia-toned picture on the mantle,

A snapshot frozen in time.

The image was taken at some point in the late 19th century,

And you can imagine the photographer tracking down the challenging terrain with bulky equipment in tow.

The image was taken around the same time that towns sprout up around the falls.

It tells a silent story of the flame's enduring presence,

A blurry flash of light behind the falls.

As the evening unfolds,

A gentle weariness settles over you,

The fatigue a testament to a day well lived.

Alice returns to collect the tray,

Asking if you need anything else.

You express that all you need is sleep,

And she wishes you the sweetest of dreams.

You rise and walk down the window-lined hall to white stairs that lead to the second-floor bedrooms.

With each step,

The anticipation of solitude grows,

And you find yourself slowly walking up the hushed creek of the stairs,

Your only accomplice.

The second floor welcomes you with old-world charm and the allure of antiquity.

For nearly a hundred years,

It was a place where the caretaker of the horses resided.

The walls are painted a crisp white,

And dim Edison lights glow with ensconces that once housed gaslights.

You enter the double doors of the main bedroom.

This haven of tranquility is a blend of rustic farmhouse decor and charming antiques.

The air carries a comforting scent,

A fusion of aged wood and the subtle fragrance of cinnamon sticks and nutmeg.

Your belongings are arranged neatly atop an ebony dresser with hand-painted gold scrolls.

You gather your pajamas and head to the ensuite to enjoy a shower and soothe your muscles from the hike.

You light candles arranged atop the marble vanity as snow falls on skylights overhead.

You pull back the glass shower door to turn on the antique handles for the shower.

Steam fills the room when you step into the tub,

Reveling in the hot massage of the water.

You watch the steam ascend towards the flurries that fall on the glass window overhead,

Delighted to be indoors,

Lingering in the shower a bit longer than you normally would.

Once done,

You towel off in one of the thickest cream towels you've ever encountered,

Inhaling the fresh scent of the clean linen.

As you dry your face and hair,

You change into your bedclothes and brush your teeth,

Then blow out the candles and return to the bedroom.

The majestic four-poster bed is against the windows where frost forms on the panes.

You look at the frosty designs for a moment and the blanket of fresh snow that coats the lawn before drawing the thick curtains closed.

As the first snowstorm of the season intensifies and the howling winds whip around the carriage house,

Your head sinks into the marshmallow pillows covered in silk cases.

You sink into the four-poster bed,

Your tired muscles delightfully and softly burning from the day's endeavors,

Surrender to the luxurious comfort,

A reward for the journey thus far.

Inside the snow continues its rhythmic dance on the skylights,

A lullaby of nature that serenades you to sleep in the backdrop of your mind.

The eternal flame dances,

A comforting presence that transcends the physical realm.

The patter of snowflakes accompanies your descent into a peaceful slumber as you give in to its call.

And with your eyes closed,

The warmth of the room,

The softness of the bed,

And the sound of snowfall tranquilize you.

The eternal flame's glow flickers in the recesses of your mind,

Ready to ignite the dreams of the night as you drift,

Letting go of consciousness and welcoming the restoration to come.

Finding serenity,

Finding healing,

Finding peace,

Finding sleep,

It's time to dream away.