Look up.  Always look up.

Reminded today of the lesson I learned while a college exchange student in Sevilla, Spain, desperately missing home. I spent so much time there lost, trying hard to remember which street to turn on, looking for clues in the graffiti on the walls, and concentrating on not stepping on dog poop on the sidewalk.

One day, I remember looking up.  I don’t know why I did.  But when I changed my focus, my perspective changed, too.  The giralda–this famous statue–was glistening in the sunlight.  The whole world seemed better.

Still holds true!

“Kids” at play in the snow-covered garden.  Feeling like this is really not all that deserving of the name “beauty of the day”.  Wish I were more excited about winter… and remembering that this is why I decided to do this.  I noticed something pretty.  I am out here, looking for something positive in my least favorite month of the year.

Today was a challenge.  Nothing struck me as all that pretty… but then I remembered this fellow, and shot him while he keeps watch.

It is winter, but the water plants I brought in to try to use again in the spring are happy.

Who can resist the cheery face of an amaryllis? Easy choice today!

Whole family went for a walk in the cold today.  This is the view from part of our driveway.  Kind of cool, even if it is winter.

Look what I found on my walk with the dogs on this brisk morning:  cool patterns in the grain of a chopped down and decaying tree.  I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to pay attention to that before.  Wondering if  “bright idea” of making myself look for “beauty of the day” will show me that all sorts of stuff in a new way?

Cool sky at night with the moon.  Love how the trees are stark against the dark blue of the early-coming night at this time of year.

Day two on this great journey.  Snow coming down.  Simple.