Virginia A. Spiegel

The Opposite of January

Normally these dyed yarns and threads are kept in a drawer, but in January I take them out and luxuriate in the riot of color.  The milkweed pod is a nice contrast, so smooth and sleek on the inside.

It’s hard to believe I actually dyed these.  Way more fiddly than I can usually stand.  But I have noticed that I have never done it again nor have had the urge to do so.

Sanctuary

We’re back in the snow and cold zone again.  My yard looks very messy in the winter as I leave my ornamental grasses up all winter.  

The birds inch out to the tops of the grass fronds for the seeds and then swing down to Earth before jumping off, flying up and starting all over again.  I don’t mind when the grasses finally succumb and tip over. The little snow caves underneath make sanctuaries for birds and beasts.

The birds are so use to me putting out seed, and so desperate in the cold weather for fuel, that they let me stand quite close while they feed. Can you tell it was a mini-blizzard yesterday? 

Effervescence

Nature is always the best pattern maker.  How could I resist the tightly packed red berries of sumac, backed by the effervescent dot, dot of some kind of little flower seedheads?  I took this photo about two weeks ago.  Since then we have had tons of snow, watched most of the snow melt, been covered in ice, and now we expect more snow. 

I will have to try this shot again against the white. Won’t that be something?

Blue Sky

Even when it’s just grasses at the prairie reserve, there is always something to photograph.  

Remember that I stepped on my last little camera AFTER it survived the Boundary Waters?  I looked at a lot of little cameras, but ended up buying another Coolpix.  It has very good close-up capabilities, fits in a plastic bag nicely for the Boundary Waters, and not so expensive that I would be afraid to take it with me everywhere.

White Light

Even though I closed out The Garbage Day Project, you know I couldn’t resist this crazy worm nest of light sets spilling out of a garbage can.  It reminds me of my own dilemma. I should replace my old holiday lights with the new energy-efficient LED ones. But then what? Chuck all those lights out in the garbage or donate them so someone can have lights, but highly inefficient ones??

On a positive recycling note, check out this great gift idea:

It’s a wine bottle recycled into a cheese board from C.D. Childs’ Etsy shop. It’s a great gift idea, but I’m keeping it for myself.  If you are shopping this holiday season, think handmade!