Winter Gift Day 13

Winter Gifts

It is December and time for the go-outside-at-least-once-a-day-and-take-a-photo-of-a-winter-gift challenge to myself. I didn't do it last year and had a rough winter. I want to do everything I can to keep that from happening again! And I got outside after sunset on day one so my photo is out of focus. Turns out I really like it that way. A good gift for the start!

Winter gift day 1

Winter gift day 2

Winter gift day 3

Winter gift day 4

It is amazing what extraordinary gifts can be found in the ordinary. Yesterday's winter gift photo was a nighttime closeup of this. 

Winter gift day 5

Winter gift day 6

Winter gift day 7. Cold and windy and dark already at 5.
I went outside but didn't stay out for long. 

Winter gift day 8

Winter gift day 9

Winter gifts day 10

Winter gift day 11

Winter gift day 11 #2

Takes more effort to climb this hill when
it is covered in snow!

snow snake

Winter gifts day 12

A few degrees below zero isn't so bad when you dress right 

and the sun is out and the snow is all sparkly!

Mushroom Waterfall

Yesterday I discovered these mushrooms pretending to be a waterfall.

Sunshine and Sledding

It is so much easier to find the energy to get outside and walk when the sun is shining! I am exploring ways to keep that sunshine in my heart and mind so I have the needed energy even on dreary days. And the sledding hill is ready—an invitation to embrace winter when it comes and have fun with it!

Little Drops of Water and a Great Big Moon

Yesterday I didn't feel like going outside, but the moon lured me out last night. What a treat! And this morning I was enticed by the drops of water on the trees, sparkling in the dawn sunshine. So many beautiful gifts are just waiting for me out there.

Finding Things and Peace in the Woods

Heebie Jeebies

I must have been in the city too long. I walked into the woods after almost 2 weeks away and I got the heebie jeebies because . . .

. . . this looked like a bear

. . . and this looked like a bat

. . . and this looked like an alligator (in Minnesota?!)

. . . and this looked like a snake

. . . and this looked like a giant turtle

. . . and this still looked like a dinosaur

. . . and this looked like an odd creature

. . . and this looked like a flower.
Oh yeah, it is a flower--
in Minnesota in November!!