Beauty in winter

I will admit that this winter has seemed the longest ever.  I really don't mean to be a bummer, and please don't think that I will be complaining throughout this post - that's not what this is!

Back to what I was saying.  Someone said that this past December was the cloudiest December in 10 years.  It better have been, because it was.

Winter gets to me sometimes.  I've gotten to where I crave the sunshine and the warmness - although not too warm, definitely not hot, somewhere between 70 and 85 degrees would be fine.  It just so happens that where we live, that's a rare occurrence.  It's usually one extreme or the other.  And those extremes can happen in the same week.

Oh my goodness.  I'm complaining, aren't I?  Sorry, I'm done.

Anyway, I had to get out the other day, even though it was cloudy and so very cold, and find something...beautiful.

Here's what I came up with.  Let me rephrase that:  Here's what I was shown.

Just walking around our block reminded me of the beautiful countryside where we live.  I'm sure I would come to appreciate living in flat lands if I had to live there, but I'm glad I do not.  I love the trees, the forests, the hills, the mountains.  Ignore the dreariness, focus on the lovely landscape.

Here's a closeup.  This time ignore the deadness, and focus on the green.

More green.  Notice how it's surrounded by what seems lifeless.  But there's always light in the midst of the darkness.

Oh, the birds.  I've honestly never noticed how many birds stick around during the winter.  Where have I been?  I thought they left us and flew further south.  I haven't paid attention until now.  Life is abounding.

Jared gave me a bird feeder for Christmas and he just put it up a few days ago.  I've been doing a lot of bird watching in our backyard and trying to get some decent pictures through the window.

I think this is a red house finch (a thank you to a helpful reader).  By the way, I know nothing about birds.  I most likely could not point out a robin to anyone.  I do know what a cardinal looks like, however, ha.  I have a tree identification book and a wildflower one, but no bird book (yet, I've got some Christmas money to use!), so I've had to rely on google.

I actually looked this one up in Izzy's little 10-page kiddie bird book.  It's a tufted titmouse.

A fat little junco (thank you, google).  There are a ton of these in our backyard everyday.

Goodness, look at how fat these birds are!  This is a white-throated sparrow, I believe.  Notice all of these birds are in the same tree, facing the same way - towards the feeder.

Next up is a woodpecker.  And now that I've googled "woodpecker with red mohawk," I know that it's a pileated woodpecker.  This is in a tree in the neighboring lot.

Another woodpecker, this time at our bird feeder.  Please excuse the terrible picture - it was taken from inside and I can never get good light from here.  I think this one is just called a red-headed woodpecker.

I finally got a picture the other day of the third woodpecker that I've seen in our neck of the woods.  This is a red-bellied woodpecker who hangs out in the abandoned lot next door as well.

Just in watching the few birds around our house, one can see so much beauty and detail and diversity.  These birds - these common, seemingly-insignificant birds - are just plain beautiful and they are a delight to watch.  And they are thriving (especially now with us providing them food) despite the bleakness.  God provides for them and He will provide for us.  We must believe it.

So even though the winter sometimes feels dreary, I know there's beauty in this world and joy to be found.  What would we do without all these marvelous creatures?

What have you been noticing this winter?