Seeing Some Things As They Aren't

Between our home and the grocery store is a road with a series of capped pipes. 

However, this one made me laugh out loud, bringing up the memory of an old childhood story character.

While some may drive by and just see  iron pipes, I am left searching for a snowman... 

Frosty, where did you go? All that's left is your hat!

Perhaps you'd like to join with me in searching out creative sights in the all too familiar scenes around us. It certainly adds spice to life!

Winter Bouquet?

Winter's beauty may not be as evident as spring or summer, but line and design, and texture are in abundance in the plants scattered over the brown or snow-covered ground, by the creek side, and across the meadows. Even cities hide a curving weed stem, with empty seed coats still attached, just waiting to be found in cracks and crevices . 

Adults and children will have fun searching the winterscape for interesting additions to a cold-weather bouquet. Gathered weeds, berries, grasses, all join together to form a collection just right for a sketch. Or, if you happen to be in an area where you cannot actually gather specimens, then photograph them, and use the pictures to create a sketched bouquet later.

Who would have thought...a winter bouquet! What does your collection look like? Did you find any color?

Ever wonder what the beach looks like when it's not summer vacation time? Look at this beautiful Lake Michigan beach in winter; no tourists, no swimmers, no suntan lotion, no sunburns and no picnic foods. But it's still beautiful, isn't it? The beach grass is dormant now, covered with snow and ice. The waves are just as beautiful- bigger perhaps. The sand is still sandy and the wind is still blowing. How many other things do we associate with only one season? The beauty of God's creation knows no boundaries- including seasons.