Walking In A Winter Wonderland

Little Misty Belle has asked me to send each of you wet puppy kisses for all of your kind comments about her pictures from yesterday's post!

This morning it was cold and cloudy with that hushed quiet that comes with a coating of fresh snow.  Last night, and again this morning, when I took the dogs out there was almost complete silence except for the sound of crunching snow and swans flying overhead.  I love that kind of silence, not awkward, just contented, the kind that doesn't require you to fill it but allows you to become one with it.

The creek has a coating of ice on it, sadly it's not thick enough now, and probably never will be to skate away on...

Later this afternoon, the sun was shining and the snow and ice against the blue sky was beautiful but I was too lazy to go back out and take more pictures.  It's my day of rest after all, and rest I did!

Snow is such a wonderful substance for those of us who don't get a lot of it.  Water, which we take for granted, is magically transformed and makes even the most mundane things look beautiful.  I love how the snow looks like little waves along the fence gates...nautical inspired snow, what's not to love?!

I thought the fresh wreaths I bought from a local Mennonite family were beautiful before, but with just a kiss of snow they are even prettier.

Even the awkward driftwood pelican that I rescued while cleaning out my parent's house (because no one else wanted it) looks more handsome in the snow.  He's grown on me, and I'm very happy I gave him a new home.

Trees which have dropped their leaves and look naked against a cloudy or sunlit sky also look more elegant with a shawl of snow draped around their branches.

And what beachy Christmas would be complete without a little turquoise and white?  The big blue spruce in our front yard (which has enough lights on it to be seen from space I might add) fits the bill when a coating of white snow embraces its soft blue/green branches.

I think I'm waxing a bit poetic today.  Maybe it's because my work commitments have been met and now I can focus on the things that make this season special.  My dear friend Suzanne from Privet and Holly did a beautiful post today on finding the "it" which makes this, and every season, special.  As I read her post, I was reminded that sometimes we have to slow down, let the stress and expectations go a little, and focus on those things that bring us joy...namely the small things.  And to embrace and enjoy those things in order to find the true meaning of Christmas.  Thank you Suzanne!

For me, finding the "it" of this holiday season was a quiet walk through snow and a gift from my sister and also a friend.  I'll be sharing those with you in an upcoming post.  I'm happy I found my "it" and all it took was Walking In A Winter Wonderland!

These pups have obviously found their "it"!!!

Note:  Several people have asked how I processed the pictures of Misty yesterday.  I used a free action by Paint The Moon called Illuminate, and then I added a Flora Bella Texture Overlay called Pure Milk and played around with soft light, overlay, and color burn.

Today's photos are a mis-mash, but I also used Illuminate on most of them.  Some have overlays with reduced opacity and the rose has a overlay texture called White Linen from Flora Bella.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!