Don't Overlook the Magic in Your Backyard

By Maureen L. Bonatch

Most of us long to get away, and it’s usually to relax in the outdoors and soak up the beauty that surrounds us. Yet often we forget that we might not have to look much further than our backyard. I’ve lived in this area for many years, yet until recently, I’d never visited Buttermilk Falls. 

It’s a little farther than my backyard, but not by much. After about a fifteen-minute ride I was able to spend part of the afternoon enjoying this beautiful 45-foot waterfall nestled in my favorite place—the woods.

Is It Magic?

As per the pamphlet I picked up on my way down the wooded trail,  a waterfall the scale of Buttermilk Falls is uncommon in western Pennsylvania. So you could say it’s almost as if I got to enjoy the result of a little magic. 

I’ll share a few pictures with you here so you can enjoy the breathtaking beauty and revel in the magic of how a stream can erode away enough rocks, for long enough, to create a waterfall.

A Walk Through History

There are also some foundations and retaining walls visible from the falls, these are the remains of Fred McFeely’s summer estate. The name might sound familiar if you grew up watching Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, as I did. This was his grandfather. 

It’s said that Fred Rogers (of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood) enjoyed many childhood visits at Buttermilk Falls, which helped to stir his imagination for the children’s television show. 

Inspired By Nature

I can relate to being inspired by the beauty of nature, as I often refer to the wooded areas around my home in my stories.  Some of my best story ideas come when I’m walking or biking in the woods. It’s a great way to break through writer’s block or get my muse flowing. 

I’m not sure why it took me so many years to visit this beautiful waterfall not far from my home. I guess we often become immersed in routine, or blinded by the beauty that surrounds us, even if it’s right in our back yard.

Do You Have a Beautiful Spot Near You That You Like to Visit?

Author Bio: Maureen Bonatch grew up in small town Pennsylvania and her love of the four seasons—hockey, biking, sweat pants and hibernation—keeps her there. While immersed in writing or reading paranormal romance and fantasy, she survives on caffeine, wine, music, and laughter. A feisty Shih Tzu keeps her in line. Find Maureen on her website, Facebook& Twitter

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