The gloomy, cold, wet, and dark weather tests our moods and peacefulness.

I’m exploring the idea that these days are yet another creative challenge – if I can find some beauty on the farm amid this muck and darkness, that will change the day.

I wound some giant and gorgeous mushrooms growing right out of the fall of one of the birth tree limbs.

They seemed beautiful to me.

Nature wastes nothing and never really dies. I’ve never gone outside of the farmhouse and not seen something beautiful.

Birds are feasting off the limbs, and mushrooms are growing right out of them. I find this uplifting; our birch tree is fighting to stay alive.

Life never quits.

Asher was standing right behind me at the gate.

He is brilliant for a sheep,

and he seems to have learned Lulu’s trick of sticking her head through the gates to charm me into giving her an alfalfa cube.

I don’t give treats to the sheep, it would be chaotic out there, but I give Asher points for smarts and enterprise.

None of the other sheep have figured that out.

Below, Aher is learning from Lulu.

The idea that mushrooms like that are beautiful is new to me; I had never paid much attention to mushrooms before I walked with Maria in the woods. Mushrooms are a big deal to her.

But I think these mushrooms have a stark beauty, and I am happy to add them to my photographic repertoire.

Beauty is everywhere. My photography helps me to keep looking for it and finding it.